Phil Anthony of Invicta East Kent set a scorching pace to win the Weald of Kent 10 mile race in 52min56sec on the hottest day of the year so far.

Anthony, pictured, has a record of 15 podium positions in races in Kent since 2005. He was the winner of the Dover Half-Marathon, Beckenham 10k and Fowlmead 5 in 2008 and earlier this year won the Deal Half-Marathon before taking this race title at Biddenden on Sunday.

The winning margin was a whopping four and a half minutes over Jim Addison (57.32) of Beckenham RC and Stuart Beaney (57.52) of Kent AC.

Fast masters were David Child (M50, 59.30) of Kent AC and David Thornby (M60, 69.52) of Maidstone Harriers.

Maria Heslop (W40) of Paddock Wood ran a blistering 61min44sec to win the women’s race by more than three minutes from Clare Reeves (65.07) of Bexley AC. Sarah Anne Mooney (68.11) of Larkfield AC was third.