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Race Walking Records Continue to Be Broken

Posted: 20th Feb 2019 by Lewis Smith

In the second race of the Enfield Race Walking League, Jacqueline Benson smashed the ten year old Under-20 Women’s Club Record for the 5 Mile Walk.

Conditions were good on a mild day in North London for the Ashford AC race walking team. Jacqueline improved her personal best by nearly one minute to come second overall, but was delighted to break the record of Kelsey Howard who was a former junior international from Ashford A.C. Her time was 45 minutes 59 seconds. 

New team mate Millie Morris went one better, or 11 seconds to be exact, to edge Jacqueline to win the race overall and get a new Under-17 Women’s Club Record with 45 minutes 48 seconds.

Rapidly ageing coach, veteran Chris Hobbs, was rightly proud of these two rising stars but declared he couldn’t keep up with them in the second half of the race when the pace heated up. Chris recorded a respectable time of 47m35s. Meanwhile ever youthful Lesley Hall, not to be outdone, also managed a new personal best and an age group Club Record of 54 minutes exactly.

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Ashford AC Race Walkers Dominate 5 Mile Race

Posted: 13th Jan 2019 by Lewis Smith

In the first race of the Enfield Race Walking League, three young athletes set impressive performances in the senior race in North London.

Sixth-former, Jacqueline Benson, smashed her own personal best by nearly six minutes, with 46m45s for third lady overall. Not far behind, in fourth place, was Grace Whittingham in her longest race so far. Grace just missed out on the Under 17 Women's Club Record set ten years ago, with 47m20s. Training partner to them both, Millie Morris, who started steadily, before overtaking both in the last mile finished second place overall with 46m28s.

Determined veteran, Lesley Hall, showed that she is regaining her fitness with 55m20s.

Coach, Chris Hobbs, finished in 47m21s and was very happy with his younger athletes. “The three girls started so fast that I thought of chasing after them to tell them to slow down," he commented. “But to everyone’s astonishment, they just kept going.”

Race organiser, Ron Walkwork, who is a former Commonwealth Champion and World Record holder, was very impressed with the three young stars, and could see a bright future for them.

The Ashford Athletic Club’s race walkers are set for an exciting 2019!

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