Ramsey Kechacha from Halling was a relatively unknown name at the front of a Kent road race when he took the Darent Valley 10k top prize in a personal best time of 34min25sec.

Kechacha (pictured) represents the Royal Navy and he is the 2012 Inter-Services junior cross country champion. His one previous road race victory came in the End of 2010 10k at Harrietsham where he set his previous best of 35min01sec, no mean feat for an athlete who started out as a 60m sprinter.

There was no requirement for the winner to deploy his 51.5sec 400m speed on Sunday as he was 27 seconds clear of Ben Fairhall (34.52, Victoria Park Harriers). Jason Cherriman (35.22, Orpington Road Runners) finished third in pursuit of team and individual points in the Kent Road Race Grand Prix.

Prominent local athletes included Clayton Barrett (35.25, Larkfield), David Lee (35.53, Sevenoaks) and Mark Penny (36.00, Cambridge Harriers), who filled the next three places.

Twenty-five men finished under 40 minutes, despite the hills and off-road section through Lullingstone Park and Castle farm.

Also below 40 minutes were the first two women, W40 masters Tina Oldershaw (38.28, Paddock Wood) and Sharon Elder (39.38) from Aldershot. Natasha Dawkins (41.42, Larkfield) completed the women’s rostrum ahead of the first W45 Sharon Hawkins (42.18, Maidstone Harriers).

Leading local women included Rachel McGuinness (44.36, Swanley) and W35 Abi Johnson (45.25, Larkfield). Sue James (47.40, Paddock Wood) was the W55 master’s winner, as 33 ladies ducked under the 50 minute barrier.

The race features an unusual team competition for ten-to-score and the shield was claimed by Larkfield AC after a dominant display.