The final Kent League XC fixture was our home one at Norman Park, with beautifully sunny and clear conditions for running – the ground was relatively firm with some muddier patches, especially the turn at the bottom of the field round the back of NP!

We had 20 senior men with Sharpey (Paul Sharp) making his appearance literally just 5 minutes before race start, though to be fair to him he had just gone sub 3 at Valencia Marathon 6 days earlier, so it was very good of him to turn out for us!

Our first man home was Ollie Knowles, who ran really strongly, working his way through the field to finish in an excellent 6th place in 26.35, within 15 seconds of the Top 3. Micah Evans was our second scorer with a steady run in 20th place in 27.34 and Dave Adams was just a couple places and a few seconds back in 22nd in 27.39 for our third man home, in perhaps his best run of the KLXC season. Completing our scoring four was Graeme Lugar with a solid run in 30th in 28.13.

Next was Doug Varney in 43rd in 29.18, Mathieu Ducep in 48th in 30:07, Gareth Evans in 57th in 30.23, James Todd in 58th in 30.26, Greg Firth in 70th in 31.13, the aforementioned Paul Sharpe in 71st in 31.15, Phil Bunn in 73rd in 31.18 and Jon Pairman in 82nd in 31.37 completed our scoring 12.

Completing our team on the day was Ian Scott in 125th in 33.33, James Webber in 130th in 34.02, Chris Fishlock in 133rd in 34.22, Colin Pearson in 154th in 35.44, Steve Pairman in 167th in 36.36, Rob Whyte in 170th in 37.00, Dave Beadle in 175th in 37.17 and Mark Ellison in 191st in 40.29.

On the day we came 4th in the 4 to score and finished the season in the same position, behind Tonbridge, Cambridge and Medway & Maidstone.

We went one better in the 12 to score, placing 3rd on the day and overall, behind Tonbridge and Cambridge.

Thanks to our five ever presents who raced in all four fixtures – our highest placer in the end of year standings was Dave Adams (9th – just reward for his consistency and positional improvement across all races), Gareth Evans (25th), Phil Bunn (31st), Greg Firth 33rd and Jon Pairman (39th) – Congrats guys!

So another Kent League XC comes to a close, a couple months earlier than usual, but there’s plenty more XC to come in the second half of the season after Christmas and New Year – Kent County XC Champs (Dartford), Mob Match (v Ranelagh @ Richmond Park) and Southern XC Champs (Beckenham Place Park) in January and London Cross Challenge (Parliament Hill), Mob Match (v Orion & SLH @ Epping Forest) and the National XC Champs (Sedgefield) to close out the season in February, before we move onto roads and track!

Micah Evans

In the women’s race three valiant runners completed the event: Gracie Horton was 13th on the day in 34.03, with Katy Sugden in next in 42nd in 37.37 and Angeline Stephens 3rd for Blackheath & Bromley in 56th.

Steve Pairman