Gareth Davies, race winner Tom Collins (centre) and Ian Reid

by Alan Newman

Tom Collins, of Medway and Maidstone AC, comfortably defended his Maidstone Half-Marathon title on a crisp, sunny morning in the county town.

Collins led from the gun to tape on the undulating route through Grove Green, Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Thurnham and Weavering to win in 1hr 12mins 35sec.

His time was more than a minute faster than his 2008 victory and nearly three minutes quicker than his nearest challenger, Gareth Davies (M40, 1.12.56) who is an unattached athlete.

Third place and second M40 Masters prize went to Ian Reid of Medway and Maidstone, who had held second spot until the tough climb onto the North Downs Way at the 10-mile marker.

The top six was completed by the strong finish of the unattached James Repper (1.19.12) who had passed Mickael Hegesippe (1.20.05) of Paddock Wood at halfway and Nathan Chapman (1.20.30) of the host club Maidstone Harriers.

Local athletes in prominent positions included third M40 Duncan Collins (1.20.53) of Tunbridge Wells, Jonathan Undy (1.22.10) of Tonbridge AC, Derek George (1.23.17) and Simon Parrin (1.23.45) of Istead and Ifield, Ian Forrest (1.24.44) of Maidstone Harriers and Rob Rowland (1.24.59) and Peter Buckingham (1.25.13) of Paddock Wood.

With three runners in the top-20 the men’s team prize went to Paddock Wood from Maidstone Harriers with Istead and Ifield Harriers third.

The women’s race produced an equally dominant display from W40 Tina Oldershaw (1.23.09) who had a cushion of more than three minutes over Helen Wheeler (W35, 1.26.22) of Folkestone Running Club.

Annabelle Stearns (W35, 1.27.11) completed the all-master podium and the top six leader board was filled by Laura Burton (1.30.42) of Paddock Wood, Natasha Swan (W35, 1.31.10) of Seaford and Cassandra Rugginz (1.32.45).

Higher age group prizes were claimed by W45 Kim Howes (1.36.39) and W55 Jane Bright of Larkfield AC (1.53.38).

Paddock Wood completed the double by collecting the team prize with Carolin Richards (1.37.57) joining Oldershaw and Burton on the rostrum. Maidstone Harriers were second ahead of local rivals Larkfield AC.

Full results are at www.maidstoneharriers.co.uk