DRIVING rain did not stop about 500 runners from taking part in the Canterbury Half-Marathon on Sunday.

Although the appalling weather was no fun for the few brave spectators who turned up to cheer on the entrants, many of those taking part said conditions were better than last year, which was quite hot.

The first man to cross the finishing line was Aboura Mahiaddine, from Thanet Road Runners, in a time of one hour 13 minutes 40 seconds. He won the race last year in a slightly faster time.

Sharon Hawkins, of Invicta East Kent, was the first woman home in a time of one hour 30 minutes 27 seconds, the third year running that she had been the first female to finish.

It is expected that the half-marathon will have raised more than £15,000 for the Pilgrims Hospices.

David Denne, chairman of the hospices' Canterbury fund-raising committee said: "This was our third half-marathon and I thought it was a magnificent event considering the appalling weather."

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