IT WAS a Good Friday for Ashford Athletic Club runners at the Folkestone seafront 10-mile run by Folkestone AC at the weekend.

There was a rare victory on the road for cross country and track specialist Mark Whittaker while local star Helen Wheeler went close to making it a club double finishing second in the ladies' race to Exeter Harrier Catherine Newman.

Although Whittaker's winning time of 55 minutes 59 seconds was the slowest in the race's 20 year history he was still delighted to take the victory carving over a minute off his previous best time for the distance and finishing 18 seconds clear of his nearest rival to become the first ever Ashford man to win.

Newman ran an excellent race to win the ladies event in 61:58 finishing 17th overall but Folkestone's Wheeler was still happy with second, slashing over a minute off her best in a distance she admits is not her favourite.