Dean Lacy (Cambridge Harriers) and Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood AC) are both Kent champions in contrasting styles after the Folkestone 10 miles race on Sunday morning.

Lacy led from gun to tape for a commanding outright victory. Oldershaw set off in determined fashion after winning her home club’s half marathon five days earlier but was caught in the closing stages by local favourite Rona Loubser, fresh from altitude training in Kenya in preparation for the Virgin London Marathon.

Lacy headed a record field of almost 600 athletes to take the £100 top prize in 51min04sec. His margin was over half a mile from Antony Jackson (Sittingbourne Striders, 53.53). Sam Rigby (Folkestone, 56.24) was a popular third in the open race for the host club.

With Jackson and Rigby not entered for the county championships, the Kent silver medallist was Clayton Barrett (Larkfield, 57.02), who led his new club to team success on his debut after transferring from Medway and Maidstone AC.

The Kent bronze went to Carl Jones (Ashford and District, 57.24), one of 16 males to dip under the hour in perfect conditions on the seafront course.

The women’s race was a classic battle between the fast starting Oldershaw and the fast finishing Loubser from South Africa. Oldershaw led comfortably at halfway but Loubser was closing fast at eight miles and swept into the lead in the final mile for victory by 68 seconds.

Loubser (Folkestone Running Club) won the Canterbury 10 miles in January in 59min16sec and was under the hour again (59.56) on this occasion. She will be keen to improve her best of 2hrs52mins in London later this month.

Oldershaw (W40, 61.04) added to her impressive tally of Kent titles with gold in this race as Loubser was a late entry. Annabelle Stearns (Gravesend Road Runners, 63.39) and Clare Reeves (Bexley, 64.08) were closely matched for the silver and bronze.