Runners get under way in the Larkfield 10k

by Alan Newman

Tom Collins from Ditton, competing in his local event, just missed out in a sprint to Marc Clayton of Beckenham Running Club ahead of 400 finishers in the Larkfield 10k on Sunday.

The Medway and Maidstone athlete had been sharing the lead with Simon Hesketh of the host club, Larkfield AC and these two were locked in combat around the lakes with two kilometres to run.

Just as Collins had seemed to have got the better of the home club favourite, Clayton powered up the hill to take victory by two seconds in 34min13sec.

Collins (34.15) and Hesketh (M40, 34.33) completed the podium and the masters winners were M40 Kevan James (36.12) of Ashford and District, M50 Mark Cross (38.59) of Cambridge Harriers and M60 Martyn Rouse (39.47) of Invicta East Kent. Beckenham Runners won the team prize.

Tina Oldershaw (W40, 38.24) of Paddock Wood took the women’s race comfortably from unattached runner Maria Heslop (W35, 38.58) and Kerrie Clarke (W35, 40.00) of Medway and Maidstone. Nicola Groom (42.05) and Bridget Ostrehan (W35, 42.08) were next to finish and led Larkfield to the team prize.