The Thanet 20 miles race made a welcome return to the Kent Championships calendar with 411 finishers at Ramsgate seafront on Sunday morning.

The heavy rain lifted and in unexpectedly good conditions Ben Shearer (Cambridge Harriers) won in 1hr53min46sec by less than a minute from Tom Collins - pictured - (1.54.41) of Medway and Maidstone AC. Shearer will be hoping to trim his best of 2hr32min in the Virgin London Marathon next month.

Third overall and first M40 master was Paul Hasler (1.58.58) of team winners Paddock Wood AC. Hasler’s excellent time ensured an elite podium of sub-two hour athletes.

Gareth Robb (2.02.33) was fourth and James Ridger (2.06.50), with his 20 mile debut ensured team success for Paddock Wood and gold medals in the Kent championships. Colin Tricker (2.08.56) provided the support for PWAC.

Michael Williams (2.03.24) of Dulwich Runners and Mark Wilkins (2.03.52) completed the top six finishers, followed by M40 rivals Gavin Kitchingham (2.04.30) of Orpington and Allen Jones (2.04.59) of Medway and Maidstone.

The higher age group winners were Clem Dixon (M50, 2.13.38) of Cambridge Harriers and Trevor Edgley (M60, 2.20.26) of Invicta East Kent.

Mel Frazier (2.12.11), of team winners Gravesend Road Runners, was the dominant force in the women’s race. Frazier was followed by W35 master Jill Cliff (2.14.27) of Deal Tri and Alexie Shaw (2.15.47) of Dulwich Runners.

Janine Brown (2.19.15) of Ashford AC claimed Kent bronze in fourth overall as Gravesend’s Claire Gaskill (2.19.49) and Annabelle Stearns (2.21.11) secured team gold and the minor medals in the W35 masters category.

Solid performances were posted by both higher age group winners, Barbara Wenman (W45, 2.27.59) of Canterbury Harriers and Miriam Dorrity (W55, 2.49.11) of Paddock Wood.