Runners at the start of the Maidstone Half-Marathon Picture: John Westhrop

By Alan Newman

Stephen Wenk of the host club Maidstone Harriers was an impressive winner of the Maidstone Half-Marathon on Sunday morning.

The 2004 World Duathlon champion and Swiss international mountain runner had no trouble with the slopes onto the Pilgrims Way on the physically demanding course. The winning time was 69 minutes 42 seconds, a personal best for the osteopathy student.

Tom Collins (71.27) of Medway & Maidstone AC used the experience of his previous victories in 2008 and 2009 to restrict the margin to 1min 45sec, after being nearly a minute down at the highest point of the course at Thurnham.

Antony Pinol (74.14) of Medway & Maidstone was a surprise late entrant and used his track speed to deny Anthony Jackson (74.15) of Sittingbourne Striders a place on the rostrum.

Gareth Davies (75.29) of the League of Prague 100 club, who was second in 2005, 2006 and 2009, was the first M40 master athlete in fifth overall.

The higher age group winners were Steve Russell (M50, 1:26.59) and Peter Worsley (M60, 1:38.30). Maidstone Harriers won the team prize with Wenk, Ian Forrest (87.23) and Richard Ellison (1:32.37). Sittingbourne Striders and Larkfield AC were the club runners-up.

Tina Oldershaw (W40, 1:21.44) of Paddock Wood took her tally of victories in the race to five. The win was in doubt until the tough climb through Hollingbourne where Oldershaw finally passed her team mate, Maria Heslop (W40, 1:22.22), who had led from the gun.

Third place went to the fast finishing Clare Mullenger (1:29.34) of Wimbledon Windmilers, who finished just ahead of Sarah Gruber (W35, 1:29.53) and Nicola Morris (1:30.18) of Larkfield AC in the later stages.

Alison Jelly (2:02.16) of Folkestone Running Club took the W55 master’s award. Paddock Wood AC won the team event from Maidstone Harriers and New Eltham Joggers.