ORGANISERS of the Quest 10k road race at Ashford on Sunday are expecting one of the biggest entries in the event for many years.

The big boost in entries has been a result of several major changes this year and a strong promotional campaign to raise the profile of the race across the country.

As a result this year's entries have come in from as far afield as the north of England and Scotland attracted by discounted accommodation offered by one of the race co-sponsors Ashford International hotel.

A major attraction has also been changing the time of the start back to a more reasonable 10am after the flirtation with the 8.30am breakfast start and the return of the course through the Town centre. See the map on page 118.

Leading the local challenge will be Folkestone Running Club’s John Creane, who also comers into the race as the new county 10km champion clinched recently at Boughton.

But there should be plenty of opposition for him at the top of the race as well as the core runners, the fun runners who do the event for charity with nearly £7,000 pledged.

Ashford School are supporting the popular junior races which, this year, will both start at the same time. The younger runners will do a 500m course while the Under-15s will race a more testing 2km course.

Race director Paul Jakeman warns that there will be road closures on all roads along the route for a short period on Sunday morning.