Huw Lobb of Serpentine Runners defeated top Kent athlete Julian Rendall of Tonbridge AC to take the 28th North Downs Run title on Sunday.

Lobb (1hr52min43sec) and Rendall (1.55.28) were the only runners from 400 entries to finish under two hours on a challenging, multi-terrain 30k race. Darren McNeely (2.03.56) of Serpentine completed the podium.

Local athletes in prominent positions were Mark Mellon (M40, 2.18.55), Mario Cientanni (M50, 2.20.27) and Kris Berryman (2.20.47) of Gravesend Road Runners while Steve Groom (2.22.53) led the Larkfield AC contingent and Simon Parrin (2.30.12) was first home for the host club, Istead and Ifield Harriers.

W35 master, Annabelle Stearns (2.20.37) of Gravesend Road Runners repeated her 2010 women’s victory at the Cascades Leisure Centre.

Nina Griffiths (2.24.46), running unattached and Mel Frazier (2.25.15) of Gravesend Road Runners filled the leading positions.

Claire Gaskill (2.26.18) of Gravesend was fourth and Nicola Groom (2.29.56) sixth in the women’s race. Also prominent was the W55 master Sally Musson (2.32.24) from Tonbridge AC.

Full results are available at www.isteadandifild.org.uk