Nick Wood, of Dartford Harriers, was a clear winner of the Darent Valley 10k on Sunday in 34min8sec, competing on his 20th birthday.

The Cardiff University student (pictured), who won the silver medal in the Kent Junior men’s cross-country championships in January, has vastly improved under the guidance of his coach, GB international James Thie.

Wood had 66 seconds to spare over Rob Jackaman (35.14) of Cambridge Harriers. Clayton Barrett (35.38) of Medway and Maidstone, seventh in this race last year, completed the podium in third place.

The leading masters were Tony Tuohy (M40, 35.54) of Dulwich Runners, Peter Butler (M50, 41.18) of Dartford Road Runners and Graham Coates (M60, 44.40) of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers.

Local men in the top 20 included Daniel Pyne (36.23) and Stuart Hancock (M40, 38.14) of Dartford Harriers; David Lee (38.26) of Sevenoaks AC; Joe Cumberland (39.09) of Istead and Ifield Harriers; Chris Desmond (M40, 39.31) of Sevenoaks AC and Martin Taylor (M40, 40.13) of Larkfield AC.

Taylor was six seconds ahead of the women’s race winner, Andrea Pickup (W40, 40.19) of Dulwich Runners. Melanie Burdett (W35, 41.46) of Beckenham Running Club and Ann Fuller (W40, 42.22) of Dartford Road Runners were the next two finishers.