Peter Hogben of Canterbury Harriers cantered into contention with victory in the latest Kent Fitness Cross-Country League race at Nurstead Court, writes Alan Newman.

It was the 22-year-old's first win in 13 appearances and moves him to eighth overall. The league leader is Dartford Harriers' Craig Sharp, who missed the race, so the individual title is still wide open with two races remaining.

There were 346 finishers on a revised course and Hogben’s winning time was 29min54sec. Noel Sutton (Thanet Roadrunners) was second overall and first M40, followed by fellow contenders Andy Fletcher (Dartford Road Runners) and Colin Tricker (Paddock Wood).

Leading higher age-group athletes were M45 Gavin Kitchingham (Bromley Vets, 18th), M50 Chris Desmond (Sevenoaks, 17th), M55 Trevor Wignall (Larkfield, 50th), M60 James Graham (Sevenoaks, 74th), M65 John Denyer (Sevenoaks, 107th) and M70 John Leach (New Eltham, 207th).

League leader Jill Cliff (W45 Deal Tri) took her third win of the season to take pole position in the race for the women’s trophy. Cliff’s 35.06 was almost a minute better than Nicola Susans (Larkfield), with Faye Roberts (Canterbury Harriers) third.

The remaining women’s age-group leaders were W50 Jane Blackmore (Swanley & District, 25th), W55 Julie Unitt (New Eltham, 35th) and W60 Barbara Ockendon (Istead & Ifield Harriers, 70th).

Defending champions Dartford Harriers are edging ahead of Dartford Road Runners in the combined team standings, with Canterbury Harriers and Sevenoaks finishing the winter strongly in pursuit.