Athletes jostle for position at Rough Common. Picture: Paul Dennis

by Alan Newman

After seven races involving 766 athletes the final positions in the Kent Fitness Cross-Country League were decided at Rough Common, Canterbury on Sunday.

The individual champions were Chris Wyles (New Eltham Joggers) and Liz Weeks (Sittingbourne Striders) and the winning team were host club Canterbury Harriers, who last tasted success soon after their club was formed 20 years ago when this series was known as the Today’s Runner League.

The muddy conditions at Blean Woods were no challenge to 18-year-old Laurie Probert (Maidstone Harriers), who secured his maiden victory by 22 seconds over Allan Lee (Sevenoaks). In third place was Wyles, in front of 2006 and 2007 champion Andrew Pickett (Dartford Harriers).

David Lee (Sevenoaks) was fifth ahead of Mark Ford (Canterbury) and three talented teenagers from Beech Grove Academy – Philip Huleatt, Nils Menz and Florian Groothoff.

Robbie Higgins (Dartford Road Runners) completed the top 10 ahead of leading over-40 Gavin Kitchingham (Bromley Vets). The higher age group winners on the day were M50 Mike Baron (Swanley and District), M60 Phil Wallace (Medway and Maidstone) and M70 James Fitzmaurice (Sevenoaks).

In the women’s event Weeks beat W45 Maria Heslop (Paddock Wood) with 28 seconds to spare.

W40 Jill Cliff led Deal Tri Club to second women’s team behind Canterbury Harriers and ahead of Dartford Road Runners. The top six leader board on the day was completed by Nicola Groom (Larkfield), W35 Hazel Vuvi (Dartford Road Runners) and Faye Roberts (Canterbury).

Penny Birchall (Canterbury) was the over-55 winner on home mud and Tina Jones (Canterbury) led the W65 category.