Kent Road Relays 2025 – #2 Dover (Samphire Hoe)

May 27, 2025

Race Report by Jo Kemp – Ladies Captain –

Fantastic achievements from team TRAC on a challenging course in blustery conditions.

What a difference 2 weeks makes – from golden sunshine to quite the opposite!

Thank you to the organisers for their amazing efforts making sure that this fixture could go ahead this evening. The plan B route was instigated to move the start/ finish up inland from the sea wall.

A welcome addition were the waves (of runners luckily not sea – hence route B!) of starts easing congestion on the first leg. Although the almost immediate hill start soon started to thin the runners out too. A trail route with gravel paths (or choice of grassy edges) and some tricky wooden bridges, we were met by a full on head wind on the way out.

It was quite deafening, although it was kinda fun hearing the notes made on occasion when the wind whistled through the baton.

At the far end turn point we were met by quite a daunting, steep hill. Once achieved there was just chance to get your breath back before we turned back into the wind for a second partial loop.

But luckily we then got a second chance to tackle the beast of a hill again! It was quite a relief to go past the turn point in the second lap and head back to the finish / baton exchange area with the wind blowing us along, and to be greeted by our cheering supporters.

Well done everyone, but particularly those who had their relay debut, on that course, in those conditions! They are all up for another go at the next fixture – “surely it can’t get worse than that!” (Sign them up for this winter’s cross country quick!).

A special mention to Rowan Tyler who was drafted into the Mens senior A team and who was worried about not being quick enough !?! Well what an outstanding debut that was!!

Hope to see you again in 2 weeks at Ashford on 10th June.

Before that though is the next club champs High Elms 10k on the 8th.

See the below link for the latest results / standings:

https://live.sportsystems.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=20246&RId=15195