Gravesend Road Runners and Athletics Club

Club Awards & Christmas Events

Posted on 20 December 2023

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A thoroughly enjoyable evening was had on Sunday 17 December for the club's annual awards and Christmas meal.  A good number of members were present at the Rose & Crown, Shorne to see James Mullan crowned as Club Member of the Year.  This is the award voted for by members of the club.  Full list of award winners for 2022/23 is shown below

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GRAVESEND RR & AC – TROPHIES 2023

 

 

PRESIDENT’S 10 LADIES                                          MARIA HALFORD

PRESIDENT’S 10 MEN                                               JAMES MULLAN

LADIES 10K                                                                EILEEN HUDSON – 1:03:20 GREENWICH

MENS 10K                                                                  KEVIN CROCKFORD – 42:17 LARKFIELD

MENS HALF MARATHON (MOST IMPROVED)       KEVIN CROCKFORD – 1:32:18PB LANDMARKS

LADIES SERIES CUP                                                  ANNABELLE STEARNS

MENS SERIES CUP                                                    KEVIN CROCKFORD

LADIES VETERAN SERIES CUP                                 ANNABELLE STEARNS

MENS VETERAN SERIES CUP                                   KEVIN CROCKFORD

TRAIL SERIES SHIELD                                                KEVIN CROCKFORD

CHRISTINE & COLIN SHIELD (MOST IMPROVED)  SEAN PIGGOTT

PETER BAGSHAW MARATHON CUP                        BEN THOMPSON – BEACHY HEAD 

MENS 5K                                                                     JAMES MULLAN    

LADIES CROSS COUNTRY                                         SALLY KYLE

MENS CROSS COUNTRY                                           KEVIN CROCKFORD

CLUB MEMBER OF THE YEAR                                  JAMES MULLAN

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This was then followed by a club Christmas lights run on the Tuesday night with the annual photo shoot at the (slightly lopsided) Christmas Tree outside the Woodville Halls. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President's 10

Posted on 20 December 2023

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A change of tradition for this event.  For as long as most can recall the President's 10 has been a 10 mile race.  The route has been a very tough and hilly one starting and finishing at Camer Park.  It was decided that this year to make it more inclusive and popular that we would change it to a 10 km race.  The event is still time handicapped but was run over a different route from near Ifield Church with two loops close to Sole Street.  There was general consensus that the change in event was a good one.  The ladies race winner was Maria Hallford and the men's winner James Mullan.  Full results below:-

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PBs for Captain Kevin

Posted on 20 September 2023

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July and August are typically sparse months for races.  Something to do

with holiday seaspn and maybe warmer temperatures.  So there has been

little to report on recently.

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Having said that there have been a couple of notable performances

by club captain Kevin Crockford (pictured opposite in his 'team' photo

after the Larkfield 10k).  In July Kevin scored a PB time of 20:38 in the

Standard Chartered Great City 5k race.  Then, he followed that up with

another PB at the Larkfield 10lk last weekend.  Finishing 67th out of 

a field of 330 runners in a time of 42:17.  Congratulations to Kevin on

both PBs.  Next target for Kevin is a marathon PB at Beachy Head.  He

will be joined in that race by Ben Thompson with both hoping to beat

last years times.

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Wye King Challenge

Posted on 16 July 2023

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Our club captain was a one man band (team) at the inaugural

Wye King Challenge.  Held in the beautiful but excpetionally

hilly countryside aroundWye (the one between Ashford  and

Canterbury  not on English/Welsh border).  Despite getting

slightly lost and falling over and battered by  unseasonal strong

winds gusting to 50 mph, Kevin finished in a creditable time of

just over 2 hours for a tough trail half marathon.

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Mob Match - 11 July 2023

Posted on 16 July 2023

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The popular annual mob match with Istead & Ifield Harriers and Larkfield AC took place on the evening of Tuesday 11 July at Nurstead Court.  A big thank you to everyone involved who made it such a fun evening.  Special mention to the marshals and club members who gave up their time to ensure the event ran smoothly.   GRR as always had the smallest team of the 3 clubs and so came 3rd on the total points scoring.  But there were tremdous performances with 7 out of the top 20 finishers being GRRs.  A revised points scheme is called for.  Since on average points per runner GRR would actually have won the match.

 

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North Downs Run - 26 June 2023

Posted on 16 July 2023

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It was a sweltering hot day for the annual North Downs Run.  Perhaps fortunately only 5 GRRs were running this year.  Think it is fair to say that everyone suffered with the heat but for the winner, Ed Bovingdon (formerly of Istead) who set a new course PB!  All 5 GRRs completed the course which is more than an achievement in itself given the less than favourable temperatures.

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London Marathon

Posted on 25 April 2023

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Congratulations to the two GRRs (Annabelle Stearns and Paul Moss) who completed the London Marathon on Sunday 23 April 2023.  The weather was  not kind to the spectators but was relatively good for the runners.  Although, it was a cold start to the day and there were a couple of torrential showers to contend with. 

 

Annabelle missed out on her hoped for sub 3 hour target but finished in a creditable 3:01:52.  Paul suffered significantly in the last 10km having been on course for a sub 4 hour.  But still did admirably to finish in 4:21:48.  Both of our incredible marathon runners are pictured below.

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London Landmarks

Posted on 3 April 2023

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The popular half marathon around London Landmarks was  attended by 5 GRRs.  Finishing times are available in the race results section.  There were PBs for Trisca Bannister and Kevin Crockford and a debut half marathon by Katie Walker.  Katie deserves a special mention as she ran this when nearly 6 months pregnant!  Another special mention too for Lucy Wright (David's daughter) who completed her first half marathon.  Well done Katie and Lucy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bromley Vets 5 Mile & Smugglers 10k

Posted on 3 April 2023

 

                                             Congratulations to Richard Lees on his run at

                                             Smuggler's 10k on a damp March morning at

                                             Minnis Bay.  And to Kevin Crockford and Robin

                                             Heel who enjoyed (or endured) a very wet 5 miler

                                             race organised by Bromley Vets.

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Lesnes Abbey 5 Mile - Ray Marshall Memorial Race

Posted on 30 January 2023

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There were 4 GRRs who attended the inaugural Ray Marshall Memorial Race organised by Plumstead Runners at Lesnes Abbey in Abbey Wood.  For those of you who thought that Abbey Wood was just a train station in the midst of a concrete jungle then think again.  The ruin of Lesnes Abbey is set in beautiful but brutally hilly woodland.  The start of the race was delayed because some of the marshals got lost.  Now this was going to be a theme for the race.  

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The race begun and even within the first mile there

was a massive steep uphill section which most

ordinary mortals couldn't run.  This was a recurring

theme during the supposed 5 miles.  Now to the

distance the faster runners (including our own

Kevin Crockford) appear to have done a course

which is pretty much spot on 5 miles.  Whilst the

slower runners including the 3 other GRRs ended

up doing nearly half a mile more!  

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Nonetheless we all had a great time and said that it is definitely worth a go especially with a very cheap entry fee.  And it is good to support a fellow club in a race in honour of their founding member.

 

 

Announcement on Club Fees for 2023/24

Posted on 30 January 2023

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Following the AGM meeting here is the latest update regarding membership fees. From now on the memberships will be running from April to March in line with England Athletics. 

 

For those members who do not wish to be England Athletics affiliated the fee for the year is £24.  For those members who do wish to be affiliated to England Athletics the membership fee will be £40 (including £17 for EA).

 

Can all members please pay the fees before the end of March so prompt payment can be made to England Athletics.  Please pay into the club account as per details below:-

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Account number 42031583

Sort code 60-09-10

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Club AGM

Posted on 30 January 2023

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The Club AGM was held on Tuesday 24 January 2023 at Nurstead Court.  Despite the low turnout we were just able to muster a quorum.  An enjoyable evening with some lively discussion followed by drinks and sandwiches  (thanks to Annabelle for organising).

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The following were elected to the committee

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John Crockford - President

Annabelle Stearns - Club Secretary

Francis Mahon - Treasurer

Robin Heel - Membership Secretary

Kevin Crockford - Club Captain

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Many thanks  to James Gostick (better known as Warsmith Gos) for his three years service as club captain.  He has stepped aside for Kevin Crockford to take over.

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