The start of the Paddock Wood Half Marathon

Personal best times were consigned to history as 1,915 runners completed the 23rd Brooks Paddock Wood Half Marathon in perfect weather conditions on Sunday morning.

Race winner, Will MacKay (Bedford and County), was rewarded for positive running with a lifetime best of 1hr9min4sec. MacKay seemed content to accompany Thomas Fewster (Tonbridge) and Tom Collins (Medway and Maidstone) at the front but a series of second half surges sealed his victory.

Collins (1.9.55) was the last to be dropped after eight miles, running within 10 seconds of his personal best to finish second. Collins had finished fourth in the Hastings half marathon the previous weekend. Andy Rayner (1.10.44) of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers was third.

Leading local athletes included the early pace-maker Fewster (1.11.18), who finished close behind the first M40 master Andrew Weir (Thames Hare and Hounds, 1.10.56) in fifth place.