Track & Field

There have been 2 meetings so far in the Southern Counties Veterans AC (SCVAC) track and field league this season.
30th May – Norman Park
Being on home territory, BVAC was able to field a strong team, with representations in every event except the W60+ shot put, the women’s pole vault and the men’s 50+ pole vault.  It was lovely too, to see so many BVAC members turn up to cheer us on and a pleasantly warm evening for the start of the season. 
We were delighted to welcome Lindsay Walker (3000m), May Edwards (400m) and Nicola Walker (Long Jump) for their debut performances in the team. Other members of the women’s team were Rachel Perry (400m, Discus, Long Jump), Rowena Kibblewhite (400m, 3000m),  Shirley Wheeler ( Discus), Marijana Urbany ( (3000m) and Anne Unseld (400m, 3000m, Discus). The women finished the evening in 2nd place overall. 
The BVAC men’s team had a tougher task, having been promoted to Division 1 this season. Their overall 6thplace belies some strong performances during the evening. The team comprised all-rounder and superman Simon Horler (400m, 3000m, Pole Vault, Discus), Steven Moss (400m, Long Jump), Jonathan Wilson (3000m, Discus), Andrew Cooper ((400m), Gavin Kitching ham (3000m), Peter Johnson (3000m) and team captain Jason Short (Long Jump). 
13th June – Central Park Athletics Track, Dartford
Another warm evening, and, fortunately, the threatened thunderstorm didn’t reach Dartford, although a bad accident on the A2 resulted in a delay for some journeys and a 15 minute later start to the meeting. Sadly, our women’s team comprised just 3, of whom 1 was delayed in arriving. The team was Becky Sowter (200m, 1500m), Rowena Kibblewhite (3000m) and Anne Unseld (200m, 1500m). With just 3 of us, we could only look on with disappointment as the other teams in our division ran the 4 x 100m relay. Despite vcaliant efforts, the team dropped to last position overall from the 2nd place secured at Norman Park. 
The men were able to field a stronger team, with some sterling performances, notably from Tim Sowter, with PBs in both the 1500m (4:52;41) and the 200m (27:89) as well as a strong run in the 4 x 100 relay..  Other team members were the dynamic Simon Horler (200m, 1500m, Javelin, 4 x 100 relay), James Willingham (200m, High Jump, 4 x 100 relay), Peter Johnson (1500m), Jonathan Wilson (High Jump), Simon Powell (Javelin), Ray Chapman (200m, Shot Put), Gavin Kitchingham (4 x 100 relay). Gavin and Jonathan also ran as non-scoring athletes in the 1500m. 
The next meetings are :  June 27th at Dartford, July 11th at Tonbridge, July 18th at Ashford and August 1st at Sutcliffe Park. These meetings are always good fun, with a real sense of camaraderie between teams. Most of us are just average athletes and we’re always keen to welcome more of our members to the teams.  If you would like to take part, please speak to one of us. We’d love to have you with us. 
 

Latest Track & Field results

2025 SCVAC fixtures have been announced:

30 May   Norman Park, Bromley

13 June  Central Park, Dartford

27 June  Central Park, Dartford

11 July   Tonbridge

18 July   Ashford

1 August Sutcliffe Park

New athletes needed and all abilities welcome.  Come and give it a go - contact Jason Short

Final T&F meeting - Dartford 19 July 2024

Dartford wrapped up the 2024 season. Whilst the ladies were out of promotion contention, the men were still in the mix and hoping to hold on to 2nd and seal promotion after a strong outing at Tonbridge the previous Friday.  Two strong teams were assembled but then illness and the IT meltdown led to Andrew, Peter and Rachel having to drop out on the day.  With the skipper relaxing for the weekend in Cologne (pressure, what pressure…), Simon Powell led the athletes into action.  And what action there was with some brilliant performances but also the same from the Bexley men, meaning it was too tight to call on the night and led to a very nervous wait until the provisional results were released on Saturday morning…. 
 
…which showed that the men had finished second on the night, just one point ahead of Bexley, and sealed second spot and promotion for the season!  Two points less and it would have finished the other way around, on the night and the season, which just shows how important the “compete to get a point” is as we had managed to get somebody into every event on the night.  Steve Moss led the team with two wins in the 60+ 100m and triple jump, with seconds for Simon H (800m and triple jump), James (800m B) and Tim (50+ 100m and 800m), and a third place IN A NEW CLUB RECORD! for Simon H, Gavin, Tim and James in the 4 x 200m just ahead of Bexley clinching promotion. Brilliant!
 
For the women, another 4th on the night and for the season, with Sarah K leading the way winning the 100m, and 2nds for Tracey in the long jump and Anne in the 60+ 800m.  Also a special mention for Becky Sowter who made her debut and claimed 3rd place in the 50+ 100m and 4th in the 4 x 200m relay alongside Tracey, Anne and Sarah K, after much persuading to compete from Tim!  Hopefully just a taster for next season!
 
So that wraps up the season and a massive thanks to all the athletes who competed, with Simon H, James and Shirley managing all 6 meetings, and Tim, Jonathan, and Tracey 5 each – fantastic commitment!  With the meetings more concentrated this season it was great to see you all able to compete where possible and put in some great performances.  Numbers were slightly down on last season with 13 men and 9 women competing this year, with debuts for Steve Moss, Andrew Cooper, Delia Beddis, Ro Kibblewhite and Becky Sowter.
 

Fifth T&F meeting Tonbridge 12 July 2024

With the men needing to finish above Bexley to jump back into the promotion spots, they did just that nailing 2nd place on the night and jumping 0.5 points ahead of Bexley into 2nd.  Another performance like that and promotion will be sealed.  Consistency the watchword for the women as they finished 4th yet again and stayed in that place for the season.

Stand out performances were Sarah King who jumped a new club record 1.20m in winning the High Jump - brilliant Sarah!!! - and the 4 x 400m men (Gavin, James, Andrew and Simon H) who rand a new club record 4.11.4 in finishing 2nd!!!   WOW!

Also great performances from Gavin (1st M50 3,000m), James (2nd 3,000m B string), Simon H (2nd PV and Hammer), Simon P (2nd M50 Hammer), Tracey (2nd triple jump) and a stunning 61.0 400m from Tim before he went on holiday!

Dartford next Friday to conclude the season and see if promotion can be sealed by the men...

Fourth T&F meeting - Sutcliffe Park 28 June 2024

3rd on the night for the Men, but slipped down to 3rd overall and out of the promotion spots after another strong performance from Bexley (now 0.5 points ahead of BVAC). All to play for though with 2 meetings left in July.

4th on the night and still 4th overall for the women.  

Stand out performances from James (1st 1,500m B string), Tim (1st 1,500m M50 and also on his debut 1st in the 2,000m walk M50!), Simon Horler (2nd 1,500m A string), Marijana (1st in W50 2,000 walk), Shirley (1st in W50 shot), Rachel (2nd 200m A string) and Tracey (2nd 200m B string).

Team tonight was Simon H, James, Tim, Jonathan W, Rachel, Tracy, Ro and Shirley, with season debuts for Nigel, Jason, Ray and Marijana

And unbelievably Martin Lloyd of Bexley managed 1.96 in the high jump - incredible performance!!!

Tonbridge up next

Latest News & Information

Third T&F meeting - Dartford 14 June 2024

4th on the night for the men, staying in 2nd overall but now only 0.5 of a point ahead of Bexley who had a very strong night finishing 2nd behind Tonbridge 'B'.  3rd on the night for the Ladies, maintining 4th overall for the season after 3 events.

Great performances from Steve Moss (M60 Long Jump win and 2nd in M60 800m), James Willingham (2nd in B string 100m and 800m), Simon Horler (2nd Hammer), Tim Sowter (2nd M50 800m), Rachel Perry (1st 100m B string and Long Jump and 2nd in the Shot!), Sarah King (2nd 100m A string) and Shirley Wheeler (W50 Hammer).

On to Sutcliffe Park next!

Second T&F meeting Tonbridge 31 May 2024

The men finished 2nd to stay 2nd overall and the ladies 4th to stay 4th overall.   All done with the skipper holidaying in the Alps - thanks Simon P for managing the team on the night.

Some great performances with the women romping home in the 4 x 100m relay - well done Tracey, Delia, Rachel and Sarah! - the men second in the 4 x 100m relay (Andrew, James, Steve and Simon H), with individual performances including 1st for Rachel in the 200m W35B and 2nd places for Andrew (200m M35B), James (1,500m M35B), Steve (200m and High Jump M60) and Ro (1,500m W50).  Plus a few PB's thrown in.

On to Dartford!

First T&F meeting Norman Park 17 May 2024

After three taster sessions it was time to start the SCVAC T&F season at Norman Park on 17 May.  With a brilliant BVAC crowd cheering the team on to some top performances, the men and women both finished second on the night, a great start to the division 2 season for both teams.  

Of the 13 athletes competing, 4 were making their debuts and did not disappoint.  Steve Moss leapt to a very impressive first in the 60+ long jump after earlier destroying the competition in his 400m heat, whilst Andrew Cooper was just pipped for a win on the line in his 400m (he promised to do better next time!).  Not to be outdone, Delia Beddis and marathon queen Ro Kibblewhite then both nailed 2nd place in their age group 3,000m, with Delia taking out the Central Park athlete in the last 20m for a perfectly measured run.  

Some equally impressive performances from the more “seasoned” athletes, with uber athlete Simon Horler winning the pole vault and collecting a 2nd and two 3rd’s in the 400m, 3,000m and discus; James Willingham and Tim Sowter each securing 2nd in the 3,000m and 400m respectively; Jonathan Wilson throwing his way to 2nd in the discus in the late evening gloom; Tracey Simmons taking two 2nd’s in the triple jump and discus; Shirley Wheeler 2nd in the 50+ discus; and Anne Unseld two 3rds in the 60+ 400m and discus (at the age of 75!).  Rachel Perry and Gavin Kitchingham completed the points scoring despite both coming back from illness and injury.  And of course Tony Unseld and Jason Short performed heroics with the rake in the jump pits!
 

SCVAC League 2023

Congratulations to Joanne Kelly, the 2023 winner of the BVAC Track and Field Cup, collecting the most number of points per league meeting (average 12 points/meeting).
Simon Horler was in second place, and Rachel Perry (new member of the T & F team) in third.
 

2023 Tonbridge AC Easter Open Meeting

Congratulations to Simon Horler who competed in the 5K event at the Tonbridge AC Easter Open Meeting in a fantastic time of 17:50 mins!

SCVAC League 2022

The  BVAC Track & Field Cup is awarded to the club athlete who scores the most points in the SCVAC in a competitive season. Congratulations to the winner for 2022, Simon Horler, who scored 83 points!

In second place was Tim Sowter with 49 points, and, in third place, Gavin Kitchingham with 31 points.

 

Tonbridge AC Easter Open Meeting

Congratulations to Simon Horler who came in first at one of the 1500m events at the Tonbridge AC Easter Open Meeting on Bank Holiday Monday (18th April 2022) in a time of 04:45:88 mins.