More than 500 of Kent’s finest endurance runners will converge on Detling Showground on Saturday to compete for trophies and medals in the Kent Cross-Country Championships.

Mike Coleman will aim to retain his senior men’s trophy for the sixth consecutive year and lead holders Medway and Maidstone AC to team success at both six-to-score and 12-to-score categories.

Huw Evans of Tonbridge AC is the current Kent League leader and his team will be out in force determined to claim the senior trophies.

There was a new name on the individual trophy in the senior women’s race last year and a surprise team victory for Folkestone Running Club.

The title holder, Bryony Proctor (Blackheath and Bromley), is a 20-year-old student at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and the 2007 junior women’s champion.

Deirdre McDermot (Tonbridge) is the current Kent League leader and Dartford Harriers’ 17-year- old prodigy Amy Smith could spring a surprise along with W40 masters international Clare Elms (Dulwich Runners).

Tonbridge AC could achieve a clean sweep of all the male young athletes’ team awards and several individual gold medals based on their current form. Sean Molloy has been unbeaten in all four races to become the under-13s league champion of 2008.

Robbie Farnham-Rose (under- 15s) and Seb Harding (under-17s) have been nearly as dominant in their events.

The under-20 individual title should go to Cambridge Harrier Sam Murphy or Dartford Harrier Nick Wood.

Amy Elison took the under-13 league title for Tonbridge AC in 2008 and should lead her team to gold at Detling.

Tonbridge will also feature in both the under-15 and the under-17 team races. The clear favourite for the under-20 title is Ejiro Okoro, Medway and Maidstone’s new recruit who has won two league races in 2008.

Facilities at Detling include changing rooms, showers and toilets with refreshments provided by host club Medway and Maidstone AC.

There is extensive car parking available close to the course which is predominately flat, rough grassland and should produce fast, close championship cross-country racing.