Ashford AC’s Nick Collins and Christine Costiff are winners of the one-hour challenge in The Ashford & District Road Road Running Club’s Lockdown League
Published: 08:00, 26 May 2020
Updated: 08:34, 26 May 2020
Several competitors broke the 10-mile barrier in the one-hour challenge during week five of the Lockdown League.
An outstanding run of 10.69 miles saw Nick Collins (Ashford AC) take the men’s accolade, in his second event of the Ashford & District Road Running Club’s virtual league.
It meant Medway & Maidstone’s Richard Tomlinson dropped into second place for the first time in three weeks, although he continues to lead the overall table.
Alun Rudgers, second in the overall table, took fifth place, narrowly ahead of club-mate Justin Lane.
The Folkestone RC pair of Ian McGilloway and Derek Matcham took third and fourth in the hour challenge. That helped Folkestone extend their lead at the top of the team table.
Christine Costiff (A&D) continues to set the pace in the ladies, with a fifth win from five events, but faces a new challenger.
South Kent Harriers’ Margaret Connolly took part for the first time and was close behind in her first outing.
In the team table, Ashford & District sit top ahead of the South Kent Harriers.
There was another strong run from Rhian Shrimplin (A&D) in the under-35 ladies, with a distance of 8.09 miles, which sees her take first place for the third week running.
Club-mates Naomi Attenborough (7.34) and Alice Cook (7.28) took second and third, a clean sweep for Ashford on the podium.
Liz Weeks (Ashford Legends & Rejects) made it four out of four in the 35-44 ladies with an impressive 9.18 miles, while another strong run from Medway & Maidstone’s Taryne McPherson (8.47) helps her keep her place at the top of the table.
A strong run from Linda-Jean Delport (A&D) saw her return to the top of the 45-54 ladies table with Marie Watson (South Kent Harriers) only a point behind.
Christine Costiff and Gill O'Connor continue to dominate the over-55 ladies with a 1-2 in every race. The real competition is for third place, with Lucy Jackson (Beginners 2 Runners), Karen Seymour (Sittingbourne Striders) and Jo Daniels (Dover Road Runners) separated by four points.
Men’s under-40 runner David Tyler (Folkestone RC) put in another strong performance to maintain a strong grip on first place. Marshall Smith (Ashford AC) holds on to second, but Laurence Teeling (A&D) out-ran him this week to close the gap to six points.
Dan Green (A&D) holds top spot in the 40-49 men but is joined by Derek Matcham (Folkestone RC) on 35 points.
In the men’s 50-59 category Julius Samson (A&D) had a strong run, clocking 9.17miles for second.
Ray Pearce (South Kent Harriers, 8.14) makes it five out of five in the over-60s, with the usual Dover Road Runners pair of Mark Sluman and Steve Partridge holding onto their second & third spots with relative ease.
Runners from across Kent are competing virtually and this week they care taking on a two-mile challenge.
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Luke Cawdell