THE recent power cut may have caused chaos for many in the News Shopper region but one unlikely beneficiary to emerge from the fiasco are the men’s veterans team of Istead & Ifield Harriers Athletics Club.

The Cascades Leisure Centre-based squad were due to go into a crucial last day fixture in the Kent veterans league at Erith Stadium knowing victory would guarantee promotion to the county’s top division.

They already occupied one of the promotion spots before the meeting but the blackout meant the fixture was abandoned and the squad went up by default.

Not so fortunate were the ladies’ team, who missed out despite having the same number of points as the team above them but not as many match points.

Istead & Ifield’s Bob Carter said: “It is a bit like losing on goal difference in football terms for the ladies, but the men’s success means next season they will compete against the most well known clubs in Kent.”