The Adamsons Skoda Deal Half Marathon finally went ahead at Fowlmead Country Park on Sunday, having been postponed from February 13 due to the course being covered in snow.

Gareth Robb of Paddock Wood found the wait worthwhile as he strode to victory by 17 seconds in 1hr16min46sec from first M40 master, Jim Addison (1:17:01, Beckenham) and Clayton Barrett (1:18:25, Larkfield).

This was Robb’s first win in a Kent Grand Prix road race and it was achieved in a competitive field of 250 runners.

Local men in good form included Craig Chapman (1:24:48, Tunbridge Wells); M40 Martin Taylor (1:25:40) and Steven Groom (1:26:33) of Larkfield AC; M50 David Abery (1:29:07, Istead and Ifield); Ross Woods (1:29:54, Tunbridge Wells) and Peter Buckingham (1:30:55, Paddock Wood).

The Paddock Wood connection with the winner’s podium was maintained as W45 Tina Oldershaw crossed the line in tenth overall to take the women’s title in 1hr24min5sec ahead of W45 Sharon Hawkins (1:29:07, Maidstone Harriers) and W35 Caroline Terburgh (1:31:26, Larkfield).