Chapman close to sub-hour mark in 10-mile triumph

Hildenborough Races Ted Pepper Memorial 10k Whitstable 10k

More than 400 runners took to the streets of Hildenborough for the 31st annual races on Bank Holiday Monday. There were open races over 10 miles, 5 miles and 2.5 miles, plus under-11 events on the sports field. The longest race was won by M40 athlete Craig Chapman (Tunbridge Wells Harriers) in 10 seconds over the hour. He was followed home by unattached Sacha Reeves (M40, 1hr01min31sec) and Stephen Brown (1: 01.40). Top 10 men included Steve Chalklen (Paddock Wood, 1: 03.57), Allan McPherson (Sevenoaks, 1: 07.41), Nick Humphrey-Taylor (M40 Sevenoaks, 1: 07.58) and Joseph Watts (Tonbridge, 1: 08.39). Maria Heslop (W45 Paddock Wood, 1: 03.02) was ahead of all but three men to claim the women’s prize from clubmate Claire Day (W35, 1: 06.25) and Emma Henshaw (Lordshill, 1:10.20). Sally Musson (W60 Tonbridge, 1:13.37) was the higher agegroup leader. Half the distance was enough for the five-mile winners from Tonbridge AC, Luke Fisher (under-20, 28min34sec) and Shauna Paice (under-20, 33.11). The 2.5-mile race was won by Arthur Zijdenbos (under-15 Sevenoaks, 16.02) and the first female to finish was Emma Hillier (under-13 Dartford Harriers, 18.22). More than 230 keen young runners took part in the junior races over 400m, 800m and one mile around the recreation ground. The 400m winners were Theo Crevzberg and Isabel Mouser, with Hildenborough winning the school challenge. The 800m went to William Morris and Neve Batchelor, with Stocks Green School taking the team race. The mile was also won by Stocks Green, with William Clark and Olivia Breed the leading individuals. The races were supported by Dame Kelly Holmes. John Tolhurst (Paddock Wood, 45min00sec) finished third in the M60 masters’ category at the 38th annual Ted Pepper Memorial 10k. Rhys Goddard (Nene Valley Harriers) beat a field of 300 to win at Norman Park in Bromley, while there were good runs from the first junior home, Bede Pitcairn-Knowles (Tonbridge, 37.54), and his father, Mark (M50, 40.11). Clare Elms (W50 Dulwich, 38.47) won the women’s race and finished 13th overall. Paddock Wood’s Alan Newman (M60, 41min10sec) and Larkfield’s Dave Moorekite (M70, 47.42) were age-group winners at the Whitstable 10k. W55 Janice Moorekite (Larkfield, 49.45) and W65 Sue James (Paddock Wood, 50.15) were also masters winners in Monday’s race. Sam Proctor (34.11) led Dartford Road Runners to team success with his men’s victory by 20 seconds. Anoushka Johnson (W35 Dartford Harriers, 42.32) managed an injured hamstring to finish first in the women’s race, with Dartford Road Runners making it a team double.