Three champions retained their trophies at the Kent Cross Country Championships at Wilmington Grammar School on Saturday.

Kent AC took an historic team victory in the men’s race, won by the holder John Gilbert, and Tonbridge AC dominated the women’s team race as Grace Nicholls cruised to the title.

Tonbridge AC claimed five of the eight team trophies in the young athletes' races, but Invicta East Kent are emerging as the dominant force in the female categories.

Kieran Reilly, of Invicta, prevented Tonbridge from repeating the clean sweep of all the male young athletes’ team and individual gold medals that they have achieved in the last two editions of these championships.

Picture: Kent Cross-Coutry winner John Gilbert (right) and runner-up Dean Lacey