Barry Royden helped Medway and Maidstone AC achieve their target of a top-30 finish in the National 12 Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park in Birmingham on Saturday.

They had eyed target was a top thirty place after the team had qualified by placing in the top twenty in the Southern championships in Milton Keynes earlier this month.

Royden, pictured, (28.51), Andrejs Safars 16.52) and team captain Adrian Lowther (29.15) alternated the opening long and short stages to squeeze into the top fifty positions at one third distance.

Jack Tyler (15.06), one of the youngest members of the squad, then tore through the field to record the eighth fastest time on leg four, gaining nine places. Mike Coleman (27.18) added seven more positions and halfway was reached by James Hogg (16.33) in 33rd place.

Consistent running by Ben Tyler (28.53), Tom Collins (15.53), Gareth Williams (30.09), Tim Alexander (16.09), Pat Curran (29.14) and Nick Slade (16.25) saw the team climb to 24th overall and top Kent club.

Belgrave Harriers won the race in 4hrs 4mins43sec with Medway and Maidstone 26 minutes in arrears. Blackheath and Bromley Harriers and Kent AC were among six teams who failed to finish a gruelling 50 mile race.