BARRY Royden, of Medway and Maidstone AC, led three athletes under the two hour barrier to retain his North Downs 30k title (Alan Newman writes).

Royden had stamina in reserve as he pulled clear of Andrew Green (Dartford Road Runners) for victory by 58 seconds.

Glenn Whellams (Salford Harriers) continued his successful tour of Kent races to finish third.

Kent 10,000m champion Gareth Williams was next home for Medway and Maidstone with Ivon Whitmore (27th) securing team victory for the men in red and black.

Gary Woolgar (Brighton M40), Michael Stacey (Invicta M50) and Ray Pearce (Istead & Ifield M40) were the next three athletes across the finish line to prove the staying power of the current crop of master athletes.

Carin Hume (Sevenoaks AC) was almost ten minutes clear of the women’s field with phyllis Flynn (Stragglers) and Heather Fitzmaurice-Cotton (Sevenoaks) completing the rostrum.

With Flynn competing in the W35 category Sharon Hawkins of Maidstone Harriers was runner-up in the masters in fourth overall.

Results: 1 Barry Royden (Medway & Maidstone) 1:57.03, 2 Andrew Green (Dartford RR) 1:58.01, 3 Glenn Whellams (Salford H M40) 1:58.32, 4 Gareth Williams (Medway & Maidstone) 2:02.52, 5 Gary Woolgar (Brighton & Hove M40) 2:03.05, 6 Mike Stacey (Invicta M50) 2:05.52, 7 Ray Pearce (Istead & Ifield M40) 2:06.24, 8 Francis Staunton (Hercules Wimbledon) 2:06.45, 9 Ian Wilson (Road Runners M40) 2:07.18, Robert Brown (Hunters Bog Trotters) 2:07.45, Richard Owen (Tonbridge) 2:08, 31, Andrew Carruthers (Halesowen M40) 2:08, 58, David Thompson (Dartford RR M40) 2:09.15, 14 Walter Hill (Crawley M50) 2:10.01, 15 Mark Taylor (Tunbridge Wells M50) 2:10.20, 16 Ismail Burdeau (Brighton & Hove) 2:10.45, 17 Kevin Murison (Gravesend RR) 2:11.41, 18 Andy Tucker (Blackheath) 2:11.56, 19 Steve Lelliot (Istead & Ifield M40) 2:12.40, 20 Steve Adams (Dartford RR M40) 2:15.02, 21 Trevor Edgely (Invicta M50) 2:15.13, 22 Gary Harris (Wimbledon Windmilers) 2:15.30, 23 Ian Drew (Istead & Ifield) 2:15.51, Michael Thomson (Tunbridge Wells) 2:16.09, 25 Paul O’Brien (unattached) 2:16.23, 26 Declan Flynn (Epsom & OEwell M40) 2:17.20, 27 Ivon Whitmore (Medway & Maidstone M50) 2:17.40, 28 Tim Webb (Bishop Stortford M40) 2:18.03, 29 Harold Bell (Dartford RR M50) 2:18.30, 30 Anthony Harron (Herne Hill M40) 2:19.11.

Teams: 1 Medway & Maidstone AC 32 points, 2 Dartford Road Runners 35 points, 3 Istead & Ifield Harriers 40 points.

Women: 1 Carin Hume (Sevenoaks) 2:14.57, 2 Phyllis Flynn (Stragglers W35) 2:24.21, 3 Heather Fitzmaurice (Sevenoaks) 2:27.38, 4 Sharon Hawkins (Maidstone W35) 2:32.12, 5 Elizabeth Walls (St Albans W45) 2:34.19, 6 Lucy Thompson (Benfleet) 2:34.43, 7 Kate Jenrick (Highgate W35) 2:37.48, 8 Ulla Korenjak (Ryde Harriers) 2:38.37, 9 Michelle Singleton (Sevenoaks) 2:38.50, 10 Gill Senior (Ashford W35) 2:41.25.

Teams: 1 Sevenoaks AC 13 points, 2 Dartford Road Runners 69 points (455 finishers).