Around 450 athletes braved the wet and windy conditions to complete the Canterbury Half-Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday morning, writes Alan Newman.

The race is organised to support Pilgrims Hospice and is run on the quiet, country lanes from Merton Farm on the outskirts of the city.

The top 40 beat 90 minutes in this Kent Road Race Grand Prix event and the top three runners were John Franklin (Serpentine, 1hr13min4sec), Greg Cole (Tonbridge, 1:17.13) and Simon Jones (Canterbury Harriers, 1:17.54).

Local club runners in top-30 positions included Tim Erskine (Medway and Maidstone, 1:21.57); Craig Chapman (M40 Tunbridge Wells Harriers, 1:24.04); Keith Dowson (M50 Sevenoaks, 1:24.43); Matthew Clark (M45 TWH, 1:25.09); Stuart Shields (M40 TWH, 1:26.00); Graham Harraway (Sittingbourne Striders, 1:26.02); Aaron Hughes (M40 Maidstone Harriers, 1:26.59); Daniel Walsh (Istead & Ifield Harriers, 1:28.32) and Kevin Barnes (Larkfield, 1:28.38).

The higher age group winner was M60 David Thornby (Maidstone Harriers, 1.34.02).

Maria Heslop (W45 Paddock Wood, 1:25.17) was seven minutes clear of her team-mate Claire Day (1:32.32) in the women’s race. Sarah Maguire (W45, 1:33.32) held off Faye Roberts (1:35.40) to claim third place for home club Canterbury Harriers.

Julie Stoppani (W50 Maidstone Harriers, 1:39.33) was followed by Nicola Morris (W40 TWH, 1:41.03); Catherine Roberts (W40 Maidstone Harriers, 1:42.16); Sarah Gower (Sittingbourne Striders, 1:44.23) and Shirley Exall (W45 Paddock Wood, 1:46.19) in the battle between local athletes. Janet Lenton (W55 Orpington Road Runners, 1:51.23) was the higher age group leader.