LOCAL runners enjoyed a highly successful day at the Castle Hotel Boxing Day run at Saltwood, near Hythe.

The event broke all records with more then 800 entries taking on the muddy three-mile course.

It was the 30th anniversary of the run which raises money for the Motor Neurone Disease charity and organisers were delighted not just with the entry but the spirit in which the event is held and the smooth running of the race.

While the winner, John Creane of the Folkestone Running Club powered through the mud to win in 17:24, it was a much slower result for many of the big field with the last runners coming in more than an hour after the race was started by MP and Conservative leader Michael Howard.

It capped what has been an extraordinary year for Creane who has enjoyed success in road races across the county.

The Folkestone teacher, who also runs for London Irish, has got in the top 20 in Kent over 10km four times this year.

He was chased home by the Ashford AC dup Mark Whittaker in 17:32 and rising young star Andy Welch with 17:47.

Making it a super day for the Ashford club, another of their Shepway runners Janine Brown showed she is back enjoying the English weather after her sunshine career at university in Hawaii winning the ladies. event in 20:04. She held off the challenge of Ashford and District Roadrunner Briony Segal.