Five Dartford Harriers are celebrating their selection for the English Schools Championships at Birmigham's Alexander Stadium on July 9th & 10th. Many thousands of schoolchildren from the 44 counties of England started the journey through the preliminary rounds to try and attain the tough selection standards. Sixty athletes ranging in age from 12 to 18 will represent Kent next weekend.
Sisters 16 year old Samantha and 14 year old Gemma Brown go in the 300m hurdles and discus, the 3rd appearance for Samantha, and the 2nd for Gemma. Both are previous medal winners.
Natalie Hickmott, 16, will be taking her 4th outing to the Championships and will run in the 300m. Shot exponent Tim Billings (17) is also on his 4th selection for the English Schools. Both finished 4th the finals of their events in 2009.
New boy on the block is Alex Bell (16), who will compete in the Intermediate Boys 200m. He is Kent 100m champion, was 2nd in the Kent 200m and won the Inter Counties 200m.
Samantha Brown, Hickmott and Bell have also been selected to run for the Kent team in the 4 x 100m relays. Pictured L-R above: Tim Billings; Natalie Hickmott; Gemma Brown; Samantha Brown and Alex Bell.
Birmingham's Alexander Stadium was host on Friday 9th/ Saturday 10 th July to 1500 schoolchildren for the Aviva English Schools Championships. The forty four counties of England were each represented by some of the UK's most talented 13 - 18 year old athletes. The competition sizzled, under the hottest weather of the year.
14 year old Gemma Brown had a weekend to remember, winning the gold medal in the Junior Girls discus with a throw of 35.05m. The Alan Champion - coached athlete won bronze last year. A nail - biting event with 18 competitors, including the current UK No.1, saw Gemma in danger of not going through to the final pool of 8 throwers. However her third effort of 35.05, a National Standard mark, ensured her place in the final and the gold medal. The icing on the cake was that another Kent athlete, Nicola Gregory from Bexley A.C. took the silver medal with 33.98m.
Alex Bell (16), making his debut in the English Schools, was delighted also to come away with a medal as part of the silver medal- winning Kent Inter Boys 4 x 100m team. Their time of 42.57s achieved the National Standard. Though Bell was disappointed to finish the 200m heats in 5th place with 23.06, he is looking forward to next year.
Samantha Brown, Gemma's 16 year old sister, struggling with injury, did well to reach the finals of the Inter Girls 300m hurdles, where she was 7th in 45.96. Natalie Hickmott (16) in her 4th English Schools, maintained her record of reaching the finals of her event. She was 6th in the 300m. sprint in a National Standard and season's best time of 39.99. Hickmott also ran in the Kent 4 x 100m relay team which was unfortunately disqualified for a faulty change.
Another athlete struggling with injury was Senior Man Tim Billings, who had to settle for 8th place in the Shot with 13.28m. He was 4th in the event last year, as an Under 17.
About 60 runners from Dartford Harriers and Dartford Roadrunners, one baton, 421 legs of 100m each, plus one leg of 95m. Time : 1:52:17. In aid of the Britsh Lung Foundation. Mike Richardson of DRR outbid everyone in the auction for the final leg. Nobody dropped the baton!
In the last match of the Women's Southern League at Harrow, on Saturday Sept. 4th, Dartford Harriers pulled out all the stops to finish 2nd. This was some great feat on a day when their Vet athletes needed to 'take it easy' in preparation for their final the following day, requiring other athletes to pull out many PB's. These included Kathryn Sutton 200m 1st 26.5s & TJ 2nd 9.41m, Hannah Sutton 400m 3rd 69.1s & SP 4th 6.35m, Ruth Ward 3k 2nd 11:43.6s, Claire Capon SP 3rd 8.01m.
Other results; K.Taylor 100m 13.6s, 200m 29.1s; C.Capon 100m 13.2s, 100mH 16.6s, 400mH 73.1s, LJ 4.79m; S.Taylor 400m 73.8s, JT 9.95m; C.Oliver 800m 2:36.8s, DT 18.84m; R.Ward 800m 3:08.6s, 1500m 5:44.7s; L.Morgan 1500m 6:43.9s, 3k 13:49.8s; H.Sutton 100mH 21.2s, 400mH 78.8s; K.Sutton HJ 1.45m; S.Campbell LJ 4.27m, JT 18.64m, HT 20.81m, TJ 7.99m; H.Hickmott HJ 1.25m; R.Seeley DT 36.31m, HT 32.86m. In the Relays 4x100m 55.1s 1st, 4x400m 4:45.4s 2nd.
After the fantastic efforts from this match and the other league matches, in a season plagued with injuries, multi-eventing on consecutive days and the Icelandic Ash Cloud detaining athletes in foreign countries, the Women's team finished a very respectable 5th overall in the League, the highest of the Kent Clubs!
The Dartford Harriers Women's Masters Team won the SCVAC League for the 2nd year running.
The final was on 5th Sept, Ashford's Julie Rose the team came 3rd only 2 points away from 2nd.
Great performance's produced Club Records & PB's. A special mention must go to the 4 x 400m Relay team who smashed the club record.
Full results.
Erith Stadium was the setting at the weekend of Sept 18th/19th, for the Kent County Combined Events, Masters and Under 13 Championships. The early autumn weather was mostly pleasant though windy as athletes from Kent Athletics Clubs strove for the honours. The five event pentathlon was completed on Saturday, with the heptathlon (7 events), octathlon (8) and decathlon (10) occupying both days.
Dartford Harriers A.C. enjoyed a very successful weekend coming away with 17 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals.
Results:The cross country season is upon us again, with dry and pleasant conditions for the first Kent League on Saturday October 9th at Sparrows Den, West Wickham.
Results
Girls/ Ladies: U/15: Cassie Benson 23rd, Ellen Anderson 25th.
U/17: Casey Porritt 7th, Lucy Hickmott 13th.
Senior: Cara Oliver 15th, Ruth Ward 37th, Steph Wood 41st, Pat Halstead 46th, Hayley Hickmott 54th, Jess Dando 62nd, Suzi Wiltshire 63rd, Lynne Morgn 67th.
Boys/ Men: U/13: Callum Ward 5th.
U/15: Ben Matthews 17th, Christopher Bishop 35th Connor Campbell 40th, Connor Williamson 41st.
U/17 Tim Dowling 21st.
U/20: Sam Dowler 4th.
Senior: Dan Pyne 41st, Tony Durey 44th, Stuart Waterman 73rd, Kevin Ashdown 104th, Steve Hickmott 112th, Paul Hills 131st, Bob Coombes 141st.
Grace Clements achieved one of her dreams at the weekend when she won the bronze medal in the Delhi 29th Commonwealth Games heptathlon. The 25 year old achieved a personal best overall score of 5819 points. A magnificent run in the 800m., the final event, sealed her place in the medals. English athletes were 1st & 3rd in the competiton, with Louise Hazel from Birchfield Harriers winning gold, scoring 6156 points. There were fifteen starters in the tough two - day event, with injury taking its toll.
Grace's individual results were as follows:- 100m hurdles 2nd 14.18, javelin 2nd 43.67, high jump 4th 1.72, shot putt 4th 12.78, 200m 4th 25.88, long jump 3rd 6.00, 800m 2nd 2:16.06.
When interviewed on BBC T.V. Clements said that she had no expectations when selected for the games, and that her main aim was not to come last! She paid tribute to, amongst others her first coach, Alan Champion at Dartford Harriers A.C. She has maintained her membership of the Club and usually competes in its colours.. The medal will be a boost for her 2012 Olympic aspirations.
Her parents were in the stadium to witness the success of the former Dartford Grammar School pupil. Clements is a graduate of Emmanuel College Cambridge, who now lives and works in the city.
Mark Smedley, owner of Monument-based cafes Mamma & Mia ran this year's Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon on Sunday 10 October on behalf of eye research charity Fight for Sight.
Mark and fellow Dartford Harrier Ralph Petts took on the 13-mile race through London's four royal parks and past some of the city's most historical landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall.
Mamma & Mia customers showed their support for Mark's challenge by pledging sponsorship, making donations and buying raffle tickets at the Fight for Sight fundraising day on Thursday 7 October. Together they raised £500 for Fight for Sight. Full Story
Results : Mark Smedley : 02:00:28 (Chip 01:52:59), Ralph Petts : 02:01:42 (Chip 01:54:13).
Meanwhile, fellow member Chris Childs finished the same race in a PB time of 02:12:23 (Chip 02:08:10). Chris was supporting the mental health charity MIND and together with three of her work colleagues, raised over £2000.
The second of the Kent League Cross Country meetings took place on Sunday October 24th at Somerhill School, Tonbridge. Runners from Dartford Harriers A.C. and other Kent clubs were treated to a challenging hilly course in bright cold weather.
Results- Boys: U/13; Callum Ward 5th
U/15; Ben Matthews 14th, Christopher Bishop 32nd, Connor Campbell 35th, Connor Williamson 36th.
Men: U/17; Will Relf 33rd.
U/20; Sam Dowler 7th.
Senior; Tony Durey 43d, Ray Wilson 81st, Tim Orr 85th, Rob Peers 99th, Steve Hickmott 103rd, Paul Hills 131st.
Girls: U/15; Ellen Anderson 25th.
U/17; Casey Porritt 11th, Lucy Hickmott 12th.
Senior; Cara Oliver 19th, Ruth Ward 31st, Steph Wood 35th, Pat Halstead 38th, Hayley Hickmott 50th.
Last weekend of 30th/31st October, twenty three of Dartford Harriers road runners travelled to Lucerne, Switzerland, with fourteen competing in the various events in the road running festival. Paula Crowhurst entered the marathon but had to finish within the half marathon category due to a misdirection on route. Ten other Dartford Harriers entered the half marathon and three the 13k race; their names and times were as follows:
Half marathon times were:
Mick Cox 1 hour 53 mins (M60);
Chris Rust 2 hour 4 mins (M50);
Chris Childs 2 hours 12 mins (F50);
Sheila Pickett 2 hours 15 mins (F50);
Janet Pyne 2 hours 16 mins (F60);
Katie Pyne 2 hours 26 mins (F30);
Alan Bungay 2 hours 27 mins (M60);
Paula Crowhurst 2 hours 40 mins (F30);
Lisa Nichols 2 hours 42 mins (F40);
Syd Goodwin 2 hours 42 mins (M60);
Ken Pickett 2 hours 42 mins (M50).
13k times were as follows:
Gill Skellon 1 hour 12 mins (Ladies);
Eydna Bungay 1 hour 38 mins (Senior Ladies);
Alan Redpath 1 hour 39 mins (Senior Men).
Pictured above: Arthur Kimber, Grace Clements and Alan Champion
Thursday November 4th saw Dartford Harriers A.C. gathered en masse in the Club's HQ at Central Park Dartford. The occasion was a welcome home presentation for Grace Clements, heptathlon bronze medalist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October. As the BBC commentator Paul Dickinson said, she is most certainly the Club's "pride and joy". Clements goes down in the Harriers 88 - year history as the first medal winner at international level.
Before the presentation, some of the younger athletes had the chance to run with Grace, and she showed them a few of her favourite stretching exercises.
Grace was presented with a commemorative crystal plaque by her first athletics coach, Alan Champion, who commended her talent,which is combined with hard work and persistence. Champion said her story is inspirational, and that he is delighted she has remained a member of Dartford Harriers despite offers from bigger clubs. Arthur Kimber, former Club president and now Chairman of the British Masters Athletics Federation, recalled Grace's progress as an athlete and the highlights of the Delhi heptathlon.
Clements had arrived at the Central Park track in April 2000, in response to a "Come and try it" day. She quickly found her niche in Alan Champion's training squad, and it was soon apparent that she enjoyed doing Combined Events.She was selected in 2001 & 2002 for the Kent heptathlon team at the English Schools Championship, and was part of the Kent gold medal winning team in Derby in 2002.
In October 2002, Grace made the move from Dartford Girls Grammar School to take up a place at Emmanuel College Cambridge to read Geography. The talented athlete won four Cambridge Blues in high jump, long jump, triple jump and 100m hurdles. By 2004, she was ranked UK 4th in the Under 23 Heptathlon lists.
Her career continued to flourish when she left university in 2005. Her international debut came in 2008 with her selection for the GB team at the Sheffield Indoor pentathlon where she won the silver medal. Grace set personal bests in all five events.
Clements still holds 9 Dartford Harriers Club Records as an Under 20 and 13 as a Senior Lady. She also holds several all - time Club records for any age group: in 2008-100m hurdles 14.10s, high jump 1.81m, long jump 6.00m, and 2005- triple jump 12.41m, and now of course- heptathlon, Commonwealth Games 2010, 5819 points.
There has been an ecstatic welcome home for Grace, with a large banner in Crockenhill Broadway and England flags decorating the driveway of the nearby family farm. All the staff and children of Crockenhill Primary School, the first school she attended, came out to welcome her. Although she has returned to Cambridge where she now lives and works, she has been invited back to Dartford Girls Grammar School to talk to the pupils.
Dartford Harriers A.C. members had a choice of two Cross Country Leagues over the weekend,with some doing both races. On Saturday November 13th Danson Park Bexley was the venue for the third of the Kent Cross Country Leagues with nine club members tackling a hilly course.
Results were - U/15 girls: Ellen Anderson 24th, Kathy Benson 26th. U/17: Casey Porritt 10th, Lucy Hickmott 13th. Senior women: Cara Oliver 20th, Steph Woods 35th, Pat Halstead 40th, Suzie Wiltshire 59th, Hayley Hickmott 63rd.
Sunday November 14th saw eighteen Club athletes in Swanley Park for the Kent Fitness League. Results; overall postions for men and women -
Andrew Pickett 3rd, Tony Durey 14th, Leon Goodwin 21st, Steve Hickmott 76th, Frank Hudson 88th, Steve Smith 214th, Paul Hills 263rd, Simon Philbin 303rd. Jenny Goodwin 306th, Julie Hibberd 325th, Cara Oliver 326th, Markus Graves 349th, Gill Skellon 379th, Steph Woods 380th, Suzie Wiltshire 381st, Maureen Farmer 388th, Folly Golding 395th, Jackie Murty 424th.
The third meeting of the Kent Fitness Cross Country League took place on Sunday the 28th November. The course in Fowlmead Country Park, Sholden near Deal was very slippery and icey underfoot, with snow flurries. Some of the competitors who were not wearing spiked running shoes unfortunately fell over. Only five Club members from Dartford Harriers took part, with Andrew Pickett the first to finish in 10th place. Tony Durey had a good run in 11th place, followed by Steve Hickmott, 84th, Tony Farmer 166th and Maureen Farmer 244th.
Chris Childs, last week completed the Cyprus 4-day Challenge, finishing sixth overall in the Womens' V45 category. Her times were: Time trial : 00:33:06; Hill Climb : 01:34:24; Half-Marathon : 02:31:54 and 10k : 00:57:57.