Tom Collins raced to his ninth victory in Maidstone Harriers’ Turkey Run from the Horticultural Research Station in East Malling on Sunday, writes Alan Newman.

The Medway and Maidstone runner covered the six-and-a-half miles of woodland paths and country lanes in 36min29sec. Although the course has varied over the 22 years the race has been held, Collins holds the fastest time on record at 34.42 in 2008 that he exactly equalled two years later.

The only other winner in the past 10 years was M&M’s Richard Tomlinson, who took the top prize in Collins’ absence in 2012. Tomlinson was first over-40 master in 38.45 on this occasion. Higher age-group prize winners were Maidstone Harriers' M50 Don Lawless (Maidstone Harriers, 41.45) and M60 David Thornby (45.35).

Mel Frazier (Gravesend Road Runners, 41.12) was an exceptional winner of the women’s race from first W45 Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood, 44.34). Maxine McInulty (Larkfield, 48.55) was the first over-35 finisher and Jenny Poulter (54.53) retained her W55 award.

Club team winners this year were Petts Wood Runners and Sweatshop Maidstone took the fun team prize through the efforts of Dan Fernandez, Will Beavington, James Alcock, Sarah Terry and Laura Arnone.