MEDWAY and Maidstone Athletics Club ended their campaign in the Kent Fitness cross country league with victory in the first end of the season cross country relay at Maidstone's Mote Park.

Pioneering league secretary Rob Bright was rewarded with an entry of nearly 50 teams for this inaugural non-scoring celebration event with nothing more at stake than a few bottles of wine and the honour of crossing the line first.

The relay was for mixed teams of five athletes with the first stage for women only.

Kerrie Clarke set the Medway and Maidstone stall out with the fastest time of the day, taking just under a minute out of League Champions, Dartford Road Runners, who were represented by Michelle Flaxton.

Also prominent on leg one were Medway and Maidstone C through Emma Harraden with Larkfield AC (Kim Howes), Invicta East Kent (Liz Batty) and Maidstone Harriers (Sharon Hawkins) also making excellent starts.

Eventual front runners Istead and Ifield (Lynne Champion) and Paddock Wood (Sue James) started conservatively but were to make great strides later as the event unfolded.

Medway and Maidstone were never under serious pressure at the front as Tim Alexander, Phil Wallace, Dave Morris and Steve Clarke built a winning cushion of 53 seconds over Dartford Road Runners.

Istead and Ifield made spectacular progress through the field to finish third overall with Dave Castle running the fastest men's stage on the fourth leg.

Invicta East Kent were edged into fourth place on the final leg by Istead's Martin Forder with Maidstone Harriers fifth and Paddock Wood sixth.

Medway and Maidstone then finished two further teams either side of league newcomers Larkfield AC with Swanley and District 10th.

Results: 1 Medway & Maidstone AC 69.41, (Kerrie Clarke 14.19; Tim Alexander 13.16; Phil Wallace 14.35; Dave Morris 14.35; Steve Clarke 12.56).

2 Dartford Road Runners 70.34 (Michelle Flaxton 15.18; David Hall 13.34; Steve Adams 14.17; Andy Green 13.22; Neil Ayrton 14.03).

3 Istead & Ifield Harriers 74.27 (Lynne Champion 19.41; Ray Pearce 14.21; Derek George 14.19; Dave Castle 12.49; Martin Forder 13.17).

4 Invicta East kent 74.49 (Liz Batty 16.00; Paul Ross-Davies 14.20; Ian Stokes 14.31; John Wigley 15.15; Andy Girling 14.43).

5 Maidstone Harriers 75.12 (Sharon Hawkins 16.25; Dave Thompson 15.22; Dave Thornby 14.52; Dave Clayton 15.00; Dave Law 13.33).

6 Paddock Wood AC 76.13 (Sue James 17.32; Steve Roberts 13.17; Dave Lawrence 14.59; Andy Fletcher 16.11; James Batchelder 14.14).

7 Medway & Maidstone B 76.40 (Hannah Miller 17.02; Steve Whiting 15.26; Matt Breeds 15.09; Lawrence Clemmence 14.28; Chris Haines 14.35).

8 Larkfield AC 77.30 (Kim Howes 16.46; Peter Seal 14.58; Ed Mundy 15.06; Greg Tickner 15.47; Steve Groom 14.53).

9 Medway & Maidstone C 77.30 (Emma Harraden 15.47; Clayton Barrett 14.01; Alan Deville 14.20; Stuart Nice 16.41; Alun Rodgers 16.41).

10 Swanley & District 78.06 (Jane Blackmore 17.24; Mick Boddy 16.23; Mick Baron 13.59; Simon Robertson 15.59; Dave Hill 14.21).

39 Medway & Maidstone D 96.50 (Jane Bright 19.14; Rachael Confait 18.36; Colin Carpenter 20.42; Tina Doyle 21.52; Alan Newman 16.26).