It has always seemed to me that for a small town with a modest catchment area, Tonbridge and district has punched well above its weight when it comes to producing very top quality athletes. The credit for much of that must be due to the formation in 1947, and continued flourishing of Tonbridge AC. From small beginnings in its early years it has grown into a strong and successful club with a large membership who benefit from an excellent HQ and track facility which the club shares with Tonbridge school. But I suspect it is the excellence of the strong coaching and support network that has always existed there that really explains the great successes that have been witnessed down the years.
So, here’s just a handful of names and achievements that have been nurtured by TAC, with a tip of the hat to a supporting cast of local athletes from Tunbridge Wells Harriers and Paddock Wood AC who all contribute to the thriving athletics scene in this corner of Kent. Apologies to the many more that I haven’t mentioned.
Val Walsh (as she then was) – Represented Scotland in the Heptathlon with great credit in the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
Tim Berrett – Tunbridge Wells born, he competed to a good standard on track and cross country for TAC before turning his attentions to race walking, at which he excelled. Relocating to Canada, he represented them in an incredible 5 consecutive Olympic games and 9 successive World Athletic Championships.
Tom Bosworth – Another Olympic race walker, still very much at the height of his powers, he holds three World bests including the World Best for the 1 mile 5:31.08. He also holds six British records, has won twelve British Championships gold medals, a silver Commonwealth Games medal and is a World European Olympic Games finalist. He is currently ranked 1st overall in the UK for 20 km.
Mark Steinle – Another Tonbridge born Olympian, Mark competed in the marathon for Britain in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and was first Briton home in 3 consecutive London Marathons, scoring a PB of 2hrs 09’ 17” which still compares favourably with almost any British marathoner to this day.
Andrew and Allen Graffin – Southborough boys who both competed internationally in the middle distances, with Andy representing GB in the 2000 Sydney Olympics at 1500 metres.
Mark Scrutton – Another great Tonbridge distance runner of the 80’s and 90’s, competing internationally and setting a road 10k time of 27’55” in 1984, which stood as a British record for 25 years before finally being eclipsed by Mo Farah in 2009.
Kelly Holmes – When it comes to local heroes, they don’t get much more heroic than Kelly. I first became aware of her when I started training at the TAC track, and although still very young, she was already being recognised as a great potential talent. She certainly realised that potential, culminating of course in her legendary double gold Olympic medals in the 1500 & 800 metres in the 2004 Athens games. No need to say more !!!
And just behind that roster of great athletes are the countless number of super talented athletes from this area – too many to name – who may not have quite hit the very highest peaks in the sport, but who have, over the years represented club, county, region and country to a very high standard.
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