More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Medway & Maidstone AC’s Richard Tomlinson has clinched top spot overall in the A&D RRC Lockdown League.
Runners competed in the 30-minute challenge last week, to see how far they could run in the time, and Tomlinson took first place for the fourth time, guaranteeing a top place finish with a week of the league remaining.
Tomlinson completed an adjusted distance of 5.966 miles, just ahead of Tom Millard (South Kent Harriers), who finished runner-up for the second week running.
Alun Rodgers (M&M) took third and puts himself in a strong position to make it a Medway & Maidstone 1-2 in the overall standings.
M&M’s Bob Fursey claimed his best finish so far as did Trevor Kay (Premature Acceleration), Tim Warren (Folkestone RC) and Phil Sluman (Dover RR). Paul Ahsunollah (Maidstone Harriers) crept into the top 20.
Leading female runner Christine Costiff, meanwhile, held off another new challenger.
The Ashford & District athlete topped the 30 minute challenge - her seventh win from eight weeks - finishing ahead of Invicta East Kent newcomer Sarah Gruber.
Gruber (5.362 miles) finished just behind Costiff (5.392) on adjusted distance.
South Kent Harriers’ Margaret Connolly continued her impressive form to take third spot. Going into the final week, sisters Christine and Gill O'Connor are all but assured of the top two places, with Marie Watson (South Kent Harriers) hoping to hold onto third.
There was impressive running further down the field from Sittingbourne Striders’ pair Jackie Austin, with her best result to date (14th), and another 10 points for Laura Woods. Karen Seymour continues to be Striders’ leading runner, however, with a ninth-place finish overall.
The A&D RRC ladies team have won all eight races, with Linda-Jean Delport - the leading ladies 45-54 runner - helping Costiff and O’Connor into first place. It guarantees them a first place finish. South Kent Harriers are assured of second place, with Dover Road Runners and Folkestone RC set to battle for the final podium place.
The battle for top spot in the men’s team table is far from over, however. Medway & Maidstone made it four wins on the spin to draw level with Folkestone at the top, with a shoot-out over one mile to come.
Antel Muller returned to action with an age-group (under-35) win, with Rhian Shrimplin (A&D RRC) close behind in second place to all but guarantee top spot. Bianca Schobel (Equipe BAP) took third.
Liz Weeks has won seven of the last seven in the ladies 35-44 but sits joint top overall with ever-present Taryne McPherson (Medway & Maidstone), who finished third.
In the men’s under-40s, Laurence Teeling (A&D RRC) came third to give himself a good chance of finishing second in the table.
Derek Matcham (40-49) finished just ahead of Justin Lane to claim first place and takes a six point lead into the final week. Dan Green came third to be sure of a top two finish.
Ray Pearce (South Kent Harries) took his eighth win in the over-60s and is all but guaranteed to take the overall win. Dover RR pair Mark Sluman and Steve Partridge took second and third and will finish the season in the same places.
This week - the final one of the successful Lockdown League - is being run over one mile. Runners from across Kent and further afield have been competing remotely for the past two months.
