In accordance with government and England Athletics advice, we regret that all club training sessions (Monday and Wednesday evenings), meetings and social events are cancelled until further notice.

However, the club is continuing to give support and encouragement to members via weekly challenges, whereby runners complete a chosen distance and post their times, weekly speed training sessions which can be completed alone and on any route, a weekly Zoom ‘Virtual Istead’ catch-up and various virtual social events such as quiz nights and ‘nights in’.

We regret to inform you that we have been instructed by Gravesham Borough Council that we cannot go ahead with the North Downs Run this year due to the Corona Virus outbreak.  The committee have already put a tremendous amount of time and energy into this year’s race and are extremely disappointed but understand the reasons behind the decision. 

 It would help us greatly in this current climate if you would transfer your place to next year’s race (27 June 2021).  Alternatively, we can issue a refund.  Either way we will be contacting all runners who have booked the race by email in the next few weeks.  Please bear with us whilst we process this.  We really hope that we will see you all next year. 

The 2019 results are available here

The club takes part in  both the Kent Fitness League and Kent League Races, plus various other Championships races through the Autumn/Winter.  Results for the 2019/2020 season can be found on the Cross Country page.   If you have not run Cross Country before, speak to one of the committee and they will be able to help you.

Since nearly all races have been cancelled, we cannot at this stage provide race lists but hope to be able to resume normal service as soon as possible!

A record 57 runners turned out for Istead & Ifield at the Shorne Woods Cross Country on 5th January, ranging in age from 21 to 75!  And they were confronted with an abundance of mud and hills – a proper cross country!

First home for the club was Paul Jones in 8th position, with Katie Vick in 7th place for the Women.  The club finished in 7th place in the Combined Team Results (3rd for the Women and 9th for the Men).  Overall after 4 events Istead Women are in 2nd place, and the Men in 10th Place, giving them a Combined Team Standing of 8th out of 18 teams.  Two Istead women – Lynne Champion and Katie Vick are in the top ten Female runners across the 4 cross country events in the series to date.

Mark Champion and Jackie Day tackle the mud!

Photos by Dawn Granger