By Alan Newman

Medals were on offer at the Chas Ryman memorial Sittingbourne 10 mile race on Sunday as the event hosted the Kent Championships and Grand Prix.

Peter Tucker of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers and Anthony Jackson (pictured) of host club Sittingbourne Striders were the only athletes among 271 finishers to breach the 60-minute barrier on the hottest October day on record.

Tucker found the necessary reserves of strength to edge ahead for victory by four seconds in 56min 30sec from the gallant Jackson (56.34).

Gavin Kitchingham (M40, 1:01.11) of Orpington Road Runners was first master athlete in third overall. The higher age group awards went to Des O’Donnell (M50, 1:04.04) of Tunbridge Wells Harriers and Trevor Edgley (M60, 1:11.04) of Invicta East Kent.

Tim Erskine (1.01.41) of Maidstone Harriers, Terry Everest (1.02.04) of Tunbridge Wells Harriers and Robert White (1.03.42) of Dartford Road Runners, completed the top six finishers.

Tunbridge Wells Harriers took a narrow victory in the team race from Dartford Road Runners and Maidstone Harriers.

Sharon Hawkins (W45, 1.07.59) of Maidstone Harriers strode out to a well-deserved victory in the women’s race from Alice Heather-Hayes (W35, 1.08.47) of Tunbridge Wells Harriers and Sarah Anne Mooney (1.09.50) of Larkfield AC. Heather-Hayes took the W35 gold and Hawkins was the leading W45 master. The W55 winner was Miriam Dorrity (1.26.04) of Paddock Wood.

Mooney led Larkfield to team success after a tie on points with Maidstone Harriers.