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Peter Tucker, of Blackheath and Bromley, Harriers and Tina Oldershaw, of Paddock Wood AC, were the individual winners of the 32nd Dartford Half-Marathon on Sunday.
The race attracted a full house of 750 entries, helping to raise funds for the nominated charity, Cancer Research UK on the weekend of the Dartford Festival.
A blustery wind and warm weather held back the times but 60 athletes finished inside 90 minutes, including the first two women, compared to just over half that number last year.
The men’s race was a classic tactical battle between Blackheath’s Tucker and 2007 British Masters cross-country champion, Barry Royden, of Medway and Maidstone AC. On the undulating rural section of the course, both athletes had spells in the lead but neither could make the decisive break until the 12 mile point, where Tucker forged ahead for victory by 29 seconds in 72 minutes 36 seconds.
Tina Oldershaw, of Paddock Wood AC, who had already secured the Kent Grand Prix title, justified her favourite status by taking the women’s race by over five minutes in 83 minutes 17 seconds.