22nd International West Kent Run
July Update (1.7.06)
(Archive of past Updates)
I have now taken more than 390 entries - the best for several years. Thank you for using the website. I shall try to keep it up to date - it saves me answering a lot of phone calls ! You will see below that there is lots to report.
I have sent the list of riders to the printers. Any late entries or late changes of machine are no problem at all, but they will not be in the programme.
A party of volunteers will be happy to welcome you on Thursday or Friday if you can spare a couple of hours at the Friars. We have to put up all our signs and lay out the field for Saturday and Sunday. None of the jobs are very strenuous but extra hands helps to get them done quicker. Just turn up from 10 am. either day.
Can you help putting up arrows on Friday ?
Marking the entire course with arrows has been a 'trademark' of the West Kent Run since the very first year. It is an important feature that contributes to the smooth running and, above all, the safety of the event. Riders don't have to mess about with route sheets or maps. A clearly marked route helps everybody. Do you have a few hours on Friday to help to mark a section of the route. The more teams we have going out, the fewer miles they have to cover. Helpers usually work in pairs (you can do it on your own if you prefer). If you can help please contact either Ron Wright or Alan Abrahams on westkentrun@hotmail.com
Coffee and lunch stops at the West Kent Run
This year we shall revisit the Kent and East Sussex Railway at Tenterden for our coffee stop. First riders will arrive at about 10am. The last rider away will probably be about 12.30. The route splits shortly after the coffee stop and the long route sweeps down to the coast near Hythe. The lunch stop will again be at the lovely Beech Court Garden near Challock. First riders will arrive by about midday and the last rider will probably leave by about 2.30pm. Both places have served us well in the past and are looking forward to seeing us all again. We hope you will enjoy your visits.
There will be more than 75 overseas riders this year. This is our best total since 2000. We are especially pleased to welcome Terry Lewington from New Zealand. He is not our first New Zealander but he is no less welcome for that. He will borrow a bike, whilst he is staying in England, from George Rhodes.
I have received 59 entries from first-time visitors. We look forward to welcoming them in the summer and hope that they have a good time with us. Thank you to everyone who has passed on information about our event and persuaded friends to give it a try.
Entry confirmation on the website
British Telecom finally turned up to dig up my property and put in a new line - I'm back on the internet and able to update this website again. I shall try to put as much news onto the site as possible and in such a way that you can find it. There will be a 'latest news - (current date)' link from the homepage.
Send us a photo for the website
I'm still adding photos to the list of riders. If you send me a picture by email, could you please keep the file down to a reasonable size. Some of the pictures I receive would be larger than life size if I could print them the size they display on my screen. They take ages to download and I have to scroll screen after screen to view them !
Social Runs at the West Kent Run
As in previous years there will be a short social run on Thursday evening that will depart at about 7pm and will arrive back in time for a barbecue at Peter's tent. All are welcome. There is no charge for the run. There is a small charge for the food if you wish to eat.
There will be an all-day run on Friday which will leave at about 10.30 am and returns at about 4pm. There is no charge for the run. Lunch will be taken at a pub and you pay for your own.
Finally there will be an all-day run on Monday with details similar to the Friday run. No charge - buy your own lunch. All are welcome. It's an extra chance to see a bit more of the beautiful county of Kent.
The Friars have a policy that forbids dogs from the Friars. It is due to the fact that many of their weekend events attract, literally, thousands of people (worshippers and pilgrims for example) and, in the past, dogs have caused problems. The decision was taken, therefore, to prohibit dogs entirely from all events and it is something we have to abide by.
If you have visited the West Kent Run and enjoyed it, you must know someone else who would enjoy it too. Print off a form for them and help to spread the news about the event. You know that the event attracts regular riders year after year but there is always space for new friends to join in. We have more than 20 new riders who will join us this year.
If you have suggestion for events or features - riding or social - that you would like us to consider, to add to the programme, please let us know. Your feedback is important to us in trying to create a weekend everyone can enjoy.
Best wishes Alan Abrahams and the West Kent Run Committee