ALLAN LEE, of Sevenoaks AC, dropped a determined Julian Rendall at the halfway point to win the Tunbridge Wells half-marathon.

Lee finished in the top 50 in the English National cross country championships at Parliament Hill Fields the previous day, but still had the legs to end Rendall’s challenge on the long climb up Spring Hill before coasting to victory in 72mins 31secs. Both athletes were rewarded with personal best times.

Lutz Michaelis, a triathlete representing Tri Run Linz from Austria, was a clear third from fellow over 40 masters David Lear (Crowborough) and Greg Stevens (Sevenoaks).

After his victory Lee explained his race strategy in running two tough events in two days. He said: “I am training for the London Marathon in April, so I thought I would try both races to test my strength. I felt good at halfway and got a gap on the big hill, so I pushed it hard for the next three miles.”

The women’s race was led from the gun by Tina Oldershaw, who was competing for the first time in 2003. The Paddock Wood W35 master was over four minutes clear of Gill Wheeler of Hailsham Harriers.

London based master athletes Helen Furze (Wimbledon) and Marlene Pautard (Ranelagh Harriers) were next home ahead of Sharon Hawkins of Maidstone Harriers.

Results:

1 Allan Lee (Sevenoaks) 1:12.31, 2 Julian Rendall (Tonbridge) 1:14.52, 3 Lutz Michaelis (Tri Run Linz M40) 1:15.46, 4 David Lear (Crowborough M40) 1:16.29, 5 Greg Stevens (Sevenoaks M40) 1:16.38, 6 Phil Coleman (Tonbridge) 1:17.22, 7 Paul Martin (Tonbridge) 1:18.16, 8 Rob Watts (Dulwich) 1:18.25, 9 Mark Wilcox (Highgate) 1:18.56, 10 Steve Thompson (Unattached) 1:19.12.

11 Richard Owen (Tonbridge) 1:19.42, 12 Richard Jones (Unattached) 1:20.09, 13 Steve Jeffery (Axe Valley Runners) 1:20.12, 14 David Thompson (Dartford RR M40) 1:20.16, 15 Peter Warley (Unattached M40) 1:20.22, 16 Stephen Paddock (Swindon Harriers) 1:20.30, 17 Daniel Green (Ashford & District) 1:21.00, 18 Derek George (Istead & Ifield) 1:21.10, 19 Stephen Avery (Hailsham Harriers) 1:21.37, 20 Bill Sutherland (Tonbridge M45) 1:21.40.

21 Jason Dowson (Unattached) 1:22.10, 22 Sean Fishpool (Dulwich) 1:22.29, 23 Kevin West (Unattached) 1:22.33, 24 Dee Patel (Bromley M40) 1:22.35, 25 Cameron Jack (Unattached) 1:22.39, 26 Jonathan Hope (Paddock Wood) 1:22.41, 27 Mick Ellsmore (Cambridge Harriers M50) 1:22.45, 28 Steve Lelliott (Istead & Ifield M40) 1:22.49, 29 Dean Delloro (Thrift Green Trotters) 1:22.56, 30 Daryl Palfrey (Tunbridge Wells Harriers) 1:22.58.

Over 60: James Fitzmaurice (Sevenoaks) 1:32.02.

Team: 1 Tonbridge AC, 2 Sevenoaks AC, 3 Istead & Ifield Harriers.

Women: 1 Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood W35) 1:25.33, 2 Gill Wheeler (Hailsham Harriers) 1:29.49, 3 Helen Furze (Wimbledon Windmilers W35) 1:31.08, 4 Marlene Pautard (Ranelagh Harriers W40) 1:31.42, 5 Sharon Hawkins (Maidstone Harriers W35) 1:32.49, 6 Ruth Elliott (Unattached) 1:32.59, 7 Juliette Parkin (Tunbridge Wells) 1:35.40, 8 Tanya Jack (Canons AC) 1:37.06, 9 Caroline Greenway (Unattached) 1:37.31, 10 Tracy Watson (Crowborough W35) 1:39.00.

11 Claire Brentall (Unattached) 1:40.06, 12 Linda Broadfoot (Lingfield W35) 1:40.26, 13 Vanessa Gibson (Unattached) 1:40.26, 14 Veronica Manley (Wymondham W50) 1:42.01, 15 Penny Furzer (Unattached) 1:42.26, 16 Marcia Peacock (Sevenoaks W35) 1:42.33, 17 Lucy Conquest (Havering) 1:42.52, 18 Sarah Handley (Unattached) 1:43.11, 19 Andrea Newton (Serpentine) 1:43.38, 20 Bridgitte Vichler (Tri Run, Linz W40) 1:43.48.

Teams: 1 Sevenoaks AC, 2 Paddock Wood AC, 3 Tunbridge Wells Harriers.