Three of the 200-plus finishers at the Kent Coastal Marathon ducked under the three-hour barrier at Margate on Sunday, writes Alan Newman.

Peter Dimbleby (M40, Birchfield Harriers) took the applause in 2hr55min58sec followed by unattached athlete Louis Passfield (M45, 2:59.08) and Sevenoaks M50 master Keith Dowson (2:59.14).

There were 18 athletes aged 40 and over in the top 20 places as masters dominated the results. Local endurance athletes in good shape included Mike Murdoch (M40 Maidstone Harriers, 3:22.34) and Adam Cowper-Smith (M55 Canterbury Harriers, 3:24.23).

Julie Stoppani (W50 Maidstone Harriers, 3:42.52) took the women’s race and the Kent masters’ title ahead of team-mates Sharon Barnett (W40, 3:45.09) and Catherine Roberts (W40, 3:47.13). Maidstone Harriers won the team gold medals with Barbara Pezzini (W45, 4:05.09) in support.

The half-marathon race saw 282 finishers headed by Damian Coleman (M40 Deal Tri, 1:19.54) and Alistair Scott (South Kent Harriers, 1:21.18). Simon Parrin (Dartford Harriers, 1:32.49), Steve Button (M40 Rebel Runners Medway, 1:33.01) and Tony Piper (M45 Dartford Road Runners, 1:33.35) were among the leading contenders.

Katherine O’Hara (W35 unattached, 1:36.04) took the women’s race.