Those of you who read the diary report by Geoff Wightman about the World Cross in Jordan (Athletics Weekly 2nd April 2009), may recall his references to Blackdale Farm, if not, and to make any sense of this report I will repeat it here.
'Tues March 24
Unfortunately, it is still raining hard, the wind has nearly flattened some of the tents and the running trail is so heavily soaked that the clay sticks to the shoes in big gloopy clods. It puts me in mind exactly of Blackdale Farm, Dartford Harriers home cross country course in the 1970s. What a ludicrous comparison. How would anyone understand that analogy? That course has not been used for 30 years, and we are 3000 miles from Kent.
Later this afternoon, I visit the media cente and bump into David Powell, former correspondent for The Times. He is in town early to host an athletics writers seminar for the IAAf. He was also a Dartford team mate for many years. "What's the course like after all this rain?" asks Dave. "Like Blackdale" I reply. He nods sagely. "We had better hope for plenty of sun to dry it out this week"'.
As Geoff said it was the cross-country course for Dartford Harriers during the 1970's; and I was the reputed "King of Blackdale". Happily I can report that it was a title not self given, which would be a bit sad, but given to me by club members because of a run of 9 consecutive Club Cross Country titles over 7.5 miles, over the invariably muddy course. I am of that age when everything is seen through rose tinted bifocals, and I think of it as my golden age. To me, an age of traditional cross-country venues and courses.
The course started in the farmyard, with barns providing the only cover. It was about a mile from the Harriers clubhouse in Central Park Dartford, so the run from the changing rooms was traditionally the warm up, and after the race if you had the fortitude to turn down a lift, it was a thorough warm down. A starting/finishing straight of about 600 metres led the runners out, and under the A2, before heading out onto the main lap. This main lap of 2 miles was run for anything between 50-75% on the edge of ploughed fields. This made it so hard on the ankles, and made shoes double in weight very quickly. It was heavy clay mud, which once it got a hold would just not let go of your shoes.
Blackdale was used on a very regular basis. For our club 5, 7.5, and 10 mile races, plus inter clubs, Christmas Yacht handicap, and also venue for the Kent Championships twice, North Kent, and a Kent League once. These are my diary entries over the years, which I think typify so much about cross-country, but also chart the progress of a certain Geoff Wightman from boy to man, as well as showcasing some of David Powell's early race reports.
You may already be pleased to know that my recollections in the form of training diaries only start in 1974. I have records from my first school races in the mid 1960's when I used to see the likes of Keith Penny regularly disappear into the distance, because I kept race numbers with details of the races on the back. Yes I am that sad sort of person. I joined the Harriers in 1968 prior to going to Aberytswyth University in 1969, and just got out of the habit of keeping my numbers; and at that stage kept no diary.
In 1969 I do recall we had a club race on a course in South Darenth, about 2 miles away from Blackdale, but Blackdale was the course I found the club using on my return from University from 1970 onwards. I won the Club 7.5 in 1971, 1972 and 1973, the start of my sequence, but sadly have no details of these, other than the engraving on the huge solid silver trophy.
1974 - My 4th title, a minute ahead of Brian Law came in Dec. Brian was one of Geoff's early coaches at the Harriers. I recall Geoff and others in the training group sporting T shirts emblazoned with Not Another 400 Brian. Earlier in the year I had finished 25th in the Kent at Blackdale, and noted in my diary "A good gutsy run over a heavy course at Dartford."
1975 - I won the club 10 early in the year in a very close race with Barry Nash, 56-07 to 56-25. Barry was a sub 2.30 marathon runner, but even he used to find Blackdale a hard course. I then won the club 7.5 for the 5th time. This was notable, as I had only got married the previous Saturday, but my lovely wife allowed me to do the club race while she went to a friend's wedding on her own. What a treasure, and still together after 33 years. The winner of the Boys race was Geoff Wightman in 14-41.
1976 - The life of a school teaching runner was typified in the club 10, when I lost out to Barry Nash by 3 minutes, having organised school races in the morning, including setting out the courses. It is always lovely to have an excuse ready, but in truth I know Barry would have trounced me that day.
I will use the words of David Powell in conjunction with the North Kent Championships at Blackdale in Nov. that year.
"Paul Hills, a 26 year old school teacher who runs for Dartford Harriers scored his first ever notable cross-country success last Saturday, when he strode powerfully over 5 gruelling miles to claim the N. Kent title."
It did come as a surprise as I was only 5th at the end of the first lap of the ploughed fields, and I had not run for 5 days with a swollen knee. I honestly only ran to support the team on our home course. I was floating on a cloud for weeks after, but in truth it turned out to be my only notable success.
1977 - The eagle eyed, or those few still awake, will have noticed there was no club 7.5 in 1976. The reason was that it was to be held in conjunction with the County race at Blackdale in Jan '77. Geoff and my running careers were clearly running in parallel at that stage, as I was 32nd in the seniors and he was 32nd in the Youths. The ground for my 6th title was incredibly heavy with many runners losing their shoes on the plough. Sadly there was no e.bay in that era for me to boost my income.
I did win an inter-club 5 in Oct, which was due to another hazard that Blackdale threw up occasionally. The newspaper report refers to the 'vandals' who moved the course markings sending the 3 leaders off course.
The writing was on the wall by Dec. when in the next inter club race the paper referred to my being 'displaced from his throne as King of Blackdale Farm'. The writing was in the form of Gary Huckwell in 4th place, and Geoff in 8th place, with me sandwiched in 5th. Gary went on to run in the World Cross in Paris in 1980, and yes I do still have the Sweatshirt.
1978 - I managed to extend my sequence to 9 titles mainly by default. The 'princes' vying for my crown were either away at Univ, or simply too sensible to tackle the 7.5. Title number 7 duly came in Jan, and a week later I won the 10 in 'appalling conditions'. In the 10 Geoff had led me easily for the first 2 laps of 4, but understandably headed back to the finish to claim the junior 5 title.
The 8th title came in Dec, but again Geoff had been well clear of me before turning off after 2 laps leaving me to keep my crown for a little longer.
1979 - In Nov I was 3rd in an inter-club 5, but was very pleased with my efforts, as I had also hared a 2 and a 2.5 mile race at school in the morning. I was training hard as I needed to be at my best to stand any chance against Huckwell and Wightman. In Dec my 9th and final title came because Geoff was not back from Bristol Univ, and Gary Huckwell chose to only train round the course when he noticed me crying on his arrival at Blackdale.
1980 - Sadly Nov turned out to be the last race at Blackdale, and I was a miserable 32nd due to a hamstring problem. However there had been a glorious race earlier in the year as reported by David Powell. 'Dartford title bid comes too late' was the headline followed by; 'Led by a prime example of unselfish running from English International Kevin Steere, Dartford supplied the first two individuals home'. Kevin ran for us 2nd claim, and had coaxed Gary round to a fine joint first. Sadly Geoff was away at Univ, and we missed retaining the League crown by a single point.
Widening of the A2 and the dividing up of Blackdale meant we had to move to a new course from 1981 onwards. So, sadly that was the end of Blackdale, and my running career never recovered. Remember what I said about always having an excuse ready. I am still competing, I think, with my main motivation being to get to 100 Kent League races. I am currently on 91.
I hope Geoff and David approve of this History of Blackdale Farm.
By Paul Hills