Team Kennet reflect on another record-breaking season

Team Kennet held its annual track and field awards ceremony at the Craven Arms Pub with almost 150 in attendance to celebrate another very successful season.

With the awards returning after a Covid-enforced absence, it was perhaps fitting that chairman Nick Bull opened proceedings with a speech reflecting on the club's rebuilding efforts as it looks to put the trauma of the pandemic behind it.

The succession of lockdowns reduced Kennet's members from 430 to 290 but it has since bounced back, welcoming almost 100 new members with 55 regular volunteers helping run the club.

Kennet boasts 15 athletes in the UK top 25 – a club record – including 18-year-old javelin sensation Ben East, who is British number one at under-20s and is ranked fifth amongst senior throwers.

East shared the senior male field athlete award with fellow thrower Luke Angell, who has coached him since he was 10, while the corresponding award for male track athlete went to Mitch Poustie.

Carly Chisolm scooped the female track athlete crown, and Cheryl Angell was awarded best female field athlete.

Jonathon Simpson proved age is just a number as he won the 'best of the vets' award.

Will McDonald, who is ranked fifth in the UK at under-13 boys javelin, was crowned junior athlete of the year while there were awards Ella Larkin, Evie Kearney, Matilda Clare, Oscar Larkin, Emerald Hill-Sawyer, Clare McGonnell, Zoe Allan, Eve Brown and Seb Simpson.

Emily Copeman picked up the club's volunteer of the year award, while the junior volunteer of the year went to Harry Brooker.

The 'officials award' was given to David Johnson and Simon Gale, who have acted as volunteer track judges and time-keepers at nearly all of the club's league matches.

The club are now looking forward to the upcoming cross country season and are expecting to welcome some 100 youngsters into their junior ranks.

Kennet will host the 25th anniversary running of the annual West Berkshire and North Hampshire Primary Schools Cross Country Championships in March, which is expected to see more than 1500 children take part.

Anyone interested in joining the club should visit the website, www.teamkennet.com.