John Gilbert of Kent AC made a successful defence of his Kent Cross-Country title at Brockhill School in Hythe, writes Alan Newman.

Gilbert's win was his fourth successive Kent Cross-Country gold medal with a powerful run in the 12k men’s race. He completed the four-lap course 29 seconds ahead of Mike Skinner (Blackheath), who had more than a minute in hand on Laurie Probert (under-20, Tonbridge).

Tonbridge retained the men’s team trophy from Kent AC and Cambridge Harriers. Ben Cole (10th), Tom Cox (12th), Julian Rendall (15th), Ben Reynolds (16th) and Dan Bradley (17th) were all well inside the top 20.

Tonbridge also defended their 12-to-score Duodec trophy from Kent AC and Blackheath and Bromley Harriers.

In the women's event, Deirdre McDermot (Tonbridge) made perfect progress from bronze in 2010, to silver in 2012 and now gold in 2014.

Her victory was achieved with 1min07sec to spare over W35 master Alice Heather-Hayes (Tunbridge Wells Harriers).

Last year’s silver winner, Clare Elms, repeated her feat of being the oldest-ever individual medallist, this time with bronze at 50 to lead Dulwich to victory over M&M and Blackheath and Bromley Harriers in the 8k contest.

Medway and Maidstone's Jenny Fowler (W35) was sixth as the club retained their six-to-score team trophy from Dulwich and Tonbridge with Rachael Stewart (W35, 20th), Rebecca Bryant (21st), Claire Wilkins (24th), Stephanie Hearn (26th) and Sarah Kenyon (W40, 34th) securing the medals.