Swale Combined AC presented their 2020 Club awards virtually, with seven club records broken in the past year despite months of lockdown.

Once training was able to resume in the summer, Harrison Patching-Scott put top effort into his training and broke both the under-17 100m and 200m sprint records by the end of the season, running 11.80sec and 24.35 respectively. Harrison won the under-17 men’s award and the Sprints Trophy.

Freya Jury continued her impressive development, winning the under-17 ladies shield after setting a 800m PB of 2min37.74 at the start of the year and capping off her season with a club record in the shot putt of 10.22m, earning her the Throws Shield.

In the under-11s, Emilia Stevens won the girls award after her Sportshall Athletics season where she broke the club High Stepper record, as well as winning the Sportshall Athlete Trophy.

Alfie Walach won the under-11 boys shield after PBs in the long jump and 200m. He was one of the hardest working athletes and his attitude saw him presented with the Training award in recognition of his efforts.

Noah Jennings set PBs last year in the high jump and 60m Hurdles to cap off a great indoor season. He went on to race over 100m, 200m and 1,500m in the summer and was presented the under-13 boys award.

The under-20 ladies award went to Elena Jury, who finished third in the Kent Cross Country league last winter. Going on to represent the Kent Cross Country team at Loughborough, she was also presented the Distance Running Shield.

Andrew Scoones retained the Senior Men’s Shield following his efforts in the Cross Country season and racing to 14th at the Newbury Half Marathon in October.

Senior Women’s award went to Natalie Long, who finished 16th in the Kent Cross Country league, going on to represent the club at the South of England XC Championships and setting a new Marathon PB in the virtual London Marathon.

Olwen Cockell won the hotly-contested Masters Women’s award following her cross country efforts, finishing 27th in the Senior League. Olwen was selected for the Kent team, racing at the Essex 20 miler where she finished in 2hrs 42min.

The Masters Men’s Shield was won by Mike English who finished 12th in the Masters Cross County League and went on to set personal bests over 10km and 10 mile on the road with 44.26 and 1.14.29 respectively.

Representation medals were also awarded to the following athletes for their efforts in competition: Joe Penfield, Lizzie Bulbrook, Lucy Bulbrook, William Jury, Harrison Gillespie, Ewan Strachan, Violet Bing, Rocco Harris, Jack Norris, Rachel Cockell, Neeve Halls, Ife Fadipe, Callum Martin, Isabella Nye, Evan Gosling, Owen Gosling, Amelia Williams, Mark Beech, Carl Beech, Katie Scoones, Christine Lynch, Kim Howes, Wendy Walach, Lisa Berkman, Jason Cockell, Toby Barker, Dorothee Barker, Daniel Martin, Josie Nye and Mike Farrell.

Swale Combined AC are resuming Club training today (Wednesday) and, restrictions permitting, will be training throughout the summer. The club are looking to open to new members from April 12 and would welcome anyone interested.

Anyone interested in training in any event with us should contact Andrew on athletics@swalecombinedac.co.uk