by Alan Newman

There was an international flavour to the 2012 Baileys Nissan Mount Ephraim Challenge 10k on Sunday.

The 200 finishers negotiated the hilly course from the beautiful country estate and Edwardian Gardens owned by the Dawes family for over 300 years.

French athletes Achour Saad (35:05, Reims) and M40 Pascal Bonello (35:56, Dainville) led the field with M40 Martin Taylor (38:12) of Larkfield AC first of the local runners home in third place.

Kevin Tourenne (39:16, Reims) was the only other male under 40 minutes followed by the unattached Simon Wilson (40:14) and Daniel Walsh (40:41) of Istead and Ifield Harriers.

The higher age group winners were M50 Phil Wyard (42:16) of Canterbury Harriers, M60 Mike Lieberman (43:34) from Lothian Running Club and M70 David Northcroft (53:45) of Maidstone Harriers.

Samira Mezaghrane Saad (38:43, Reims) was a top quality women's winner from W45 Paula Stockton (45:50) of Maidstone Harriers and W55 Pat Halstead (49:23) of Dartford Harriers.

The team winners were Invicta East Kent men and ESFRA Reims women.