THE Ashford Tri Club got off to a bright start with their first Connells Friday 5 Series meeting attracting nearly 70 entries.

The event, four evening races over a two lap course at Ashford’s Victoria Park, was well contested with the men’s race dominated by the Folkestone RC duo of John Creane and Sam Rigby.

They gave the club a great one/two finish with Creane romping to a great 15:55 inaugural time laying down the gauntlet for the rest of the season.

Rigby came through in the second lap to finish in 16:24 pushing promising junior Robert Dennis from Invicta East Kent into third with 16:27.

Ashford and District Roadrunner Danny Green had a fine run in fourth with 17:20 and teammate Rob Carpenter was sixth with 17:30.

The host club’s Tim Sutton got in the top 10 with 18:19.

The women’s race was won by the talented youngster from Ashford Athletic Club Grace Nicholls with the Marsh youngster making the top 15 overall with a fine 18:45 finish.

She finished comfortably clear of Ashford teammate Candy Hawkins witht he veteran clocking 20:08 holding off the challenge of another Ashford AC runner Amanda Jukes third with 20:22.

The series continues Friday, June 1, with the final two on July 6 and August 3. Each race is an indivdual event with medals for all finishers and a cash prize for the course records.

Entry forms and race details can be obtained from www.ashfordtriclub.co.uk.