After a successful inaugural event last year, Tonbridge AC has opened entries for the Midsummer Relay on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 – start time 7:15pm.

The 2024 event saw 95 teams representing 20 running clubs. This year, the event will expand to 150 teams of three runners competing in three categories: male teams, female teams and mixed teams – all racing for the Alan Bennett trophies.

The venue is truly spectacular. Penshurst Place and Gardens near Tonbridge, Kent, is a 14th-century Manor House, once the property of King Henry VIII and his son King Edward VI, and then granted to Sir William Sidney in 1552. The Sidney family has since occupied the property for more than 470 years.

The State Rooms are open to the public until 4:00pm daily and the Gardens and Grounds until 5:00pm. The Parkland is free to visit at any time and the sweeping vista of the estate provides a perfect 4K per stage, multi-terrain course for the Tonbridge AC Midsummer Relay as seen in this short video of the launch event in July 2024.....

The Alan Bennett Trophy holders are the host club Tonbridge AC (men's and women's teams) and Cambridge Harriers (mixed team). The winning times for the combined 12K per team were 38:00 (men's team), 45:56 (women's team), and 43:27 (mixed team).

The fastest individual times last year were achieved by Liam White (Tunbridge Wells Harriers, 12:09) and Nicolene Hanekom (Sevenoaks AC, 14:33). The oldest competitor was M80 Alan Champion (Istead & Ifield Harriers, 32:16). The runABC South report can be reviewed here... 

The Tonbridge AC Midsummer Relay is kindly supported by key sponsors Birketts Solicitors and Hamptons Estate Agents. Entries are now live at Open Track here...

Entries cost £21 per team and parking is free at the race venue. 

Full details are at Tonbridge AC here and on runABC South here.

Photo courtesy Charlotte Knee Photography for Tonbridge AC