A team of 31 Harriers (21 men and 10 women) took part in the 36th North Downs Run on Sunday, over an undulating downland course of 30km. With some relief, the previous day’s temperatures into the mid-30’s had cooled to the mid-20’s, but this was still unpleasantly hot for a tough course over such unforgiving hilly terrain. Many of those who had completed this event before, even last year’s edition in the heatwave, ran significantly slower times as a result.
Personally, I was aiming to avoid last year’s mistake of running on empty, seeing stars and almost coming to a complete standstill with a half mile to go. Apart from the embarrassment, I also missed out on first place in the British Masters’ Trail Champs which were again incorporated into this year’s event. The plan this time was to have a more circumspect first half, and to take more gels. It certainly worked in terms of having a stronger finish as I caught and passed Dan Watt in the last 2k, although I did toy with the idea of sitting behind him so that I didn’t have to write this report!
And on that note: the unwritten rule of ‘first home writes the race report’. Apart from a lack of women amongst our authors – the first home is rarely a female Harrier – there isn’t a lot of interest at the strung-out front end of the race, which doesn’t make for particularly gripping report material. We should share it about a bit.
Having said all of the above, I can absolutely guarantee that my race was more ‘interesting’ than anyone else’s!
The first half was particularly pleasant, with long stretches through woodland in cool dappled shade. Tom Woolley and I ran together for most of it, swapping the lead at stiles and (the many) kissing gates. I was relieved we went through 10k in about 43 mins, which was much more reserved than last year’s 40 mins, but already had rather heavy legs after a 3000m and 4x400m on the track on Monday, followed by the Kent 10,000m champs on Wednesday. It all comes thick and fast at this time of year, but I’m resting now…honest!
Just after half way, Tom moved ahead as he legged it down a steep slope to join Wrangling Lane at Great Buckland. The lane is very narrow – barely more than a car’s width – so not a place to meet traffic. Unfortunately we did. An old 4×4 drove at speed towards us, ignoring Tom’s remonstrations to slow down. I moved over to the right hand side, and as he shot past he knocked my arm with his wing mirror. Thinking he’d stop to apologise, I glanced back and saw him skid to a halt on the gravel, but he then started to reverse at speed towards me whilst hurling obscenities out of his window. My natural inclination was to run faster, but when he clipped my heel with his rear bumper I moved over to the side of the track hoping that we were nearly at the stile to the next footpath. Unfortunately we weren’t, and he swung round in a gateway to drive towards me again. As he pulled alongside, the snarling idiot flung his car against me, knocking me sideways into the hedge and then let rip about ‘damaging his car’ (a wing mirror neatly folded back) and how he had as much right to be on the road as a bunch of effing runners. Nice. The matter is now in the hands of the police.
I remain grateful to Grant Mitchell for the shot of adrenaline that helped both the ascent of Cricket Pitch Hill and catching the group ahead. Once that wore off, it was a long slog to the finish in the midday sun with little shade for relief. I was surprised to see Dan ahead on the path through the oilseed rape, and also Julian Rendall jogging back with an injury. Passing both, I then entered the final field – a huge relief for someone whose favourite distance is 1500m!
Well done to all of you that turned out for the Club on such an unforgiving course on a sweltering day. It was just brutal. Our men’s team of six all finished ahead of the first finisher from Orpington RR, the current leaders in the Kent GP, and our next eight men did a great job of knocking the ORR team score down. The women’s scoring team of four looked to be on fairly level pegging with ORR with a quick totting up of race placings, although that includes non-KGP runners. Mike’s GP update gives more detail below.
In the British Masters’ Trail Championships, I finished with the gold medal for 1st M55, and Stella took the silver medal in the W60 category. Fantastic running, Stella! I should also mention Harriet’s excellent 3rd place overall in her new first claim club colours of Tonbridge AC, and a whole string of high age category placings detailed below.
Andy
1 | Ed Bovington | Istead & Ifield Harriers | 1:59:40 | |
12 | Amy Clements | Kent AC | 2:14:33 | 1st F/F35 |
14 | Andy Howey | 2:16:15 | 4th M50 | |
16 | Dan Watt | 2:17:31 | 7th M | |
17 | Tom Woolley | 2:17:55 | 8th M | |
21 | Keith Mitchell | 2:19:48 | 8th M40 | |
24 | Matt Ferris | 2:20:35 | 10th M | |
27 | Ed Steele | 2:20:53 | ||
37 | Tim Lucas | 2:25:01 | ||
45 | Rich Carter | 2:30:51 | ||
47 | Harriet Woolley | Tonbridge AC | 2:31:20 | 3rd F |
64 | Craig Chapman | 2:33:53 | ||
73 | Terry Everest | 2:35:23 | ||
78 | Alex Blackall | 2:36:38 | ||
84 | Alex Holmes | 2:37:35 | ||
97 | Martin Hobbs | 2:40:41 | ||
115 | Steve Austin | 2:43:43 | 4th M60 | |
122 | Jillian Holford | 2:46:01 | 8th F45 | |
147 | Simon Howden | 2:49:51 | ||
153 | Nicola Morris | 2:51:23 | 11th F45 | |
178 | Gem Stilliard | 2:57:14 | 9th F35 | |
191 | Geoff Turner | 2:59:57 | ||
199 | Rich Quartermaine | 3:02:09 | ||
244 | Ana-Maria Green | 3:11:57 | ||
251 | Guy Gracey | 3:13:18 | ||
283 | Mark Taylor | 3:17:22 | ||
311 | Amanda Smith | 3:23:22 | ||
312 | Stella Richardson | 3:23:22 | 7th F60 | |
370 | Nick Pierce | 3:36:05 | ||
375 | Carol Tsang | 3:38:12 | ||
387 | Amanda Bruneau | 3:41:18 | ||
423 | Jane Roome | 3:49:41 | ||
443 | Gary O’Reilly | 3:57:16 | ||
461 | Siobhan Browne | 4:03:06 | ||
(551 | finished) |
Dear All
Firstly well done to all who took part, I gather conditions were rather warm! From a Kent GP point of view then just a quick update.
For the men it looks like we did rather well! All these numbers are provisional (people mis-spelling their club, wrong club names etc) but it looks like we scored 546 points to Orpington’s (our main rival’s) 480. This was achieved by all of our 6 to score finishing ahead of all Orpington runners. However because we put out such a big team we almost doubled the difference between us and them by also taking away 31 points by having non scoring runners getting ahead of their 6 to score.
For the ladies it was a lot closer with us scoring 137 to their 136, so well done getting there and closing the gap.
In terms of how this affects the standings then if we drop our two worst races (its 8 out of 10 which count) then there is now only 24 points between us and Orpington. I know this is actually closer because it seems Alex Holmes was missed off the standings in Darent and Paddock wood which I have asked to be updated. For the ladies the gap is only 14 points so easily closable and if we drop ours and thier worst race then we are in the lead by 13 points!
Therefore I am confidence that we can win both the men’s and ladies trophies this year with this standard of turn out, so massive thank you to all.
As to what next then if you can please register for the Sevenoaks 7 on the 14th July, a really nice run around Knole park. Also if you can sign up for the Dartford 10k on Monday 26th August (Bank Holiday) that would be great (described by their website as challenging but hugely enjoyable)
Thanks
Mike