The Folkestone 10 mile race is one of the most popular road races in the South East and the race capacity of 800 was reached well before the Good Friday event date. Medway & Maidstone had seven runners taking part and between them achieved some outstanding results.
The team event was narrowly won by the local Folkestone Running Club, Medway & Maidstone AC missing out by just 1 point.
The overall race was won by 18 year old Billy Hobbs of Tunbridge Wells Harriers with a PB in 54.23. He was followed by Lee McMeekin of Medway & Maidstone AC in a time of 55.07 taking 2nd overall and 1st master’s place. This was a remarkable result considering McMeekin is now in the M45 category and this was a PB and new club record. His previous best at this distance was in 2006! Mark Wilkins was next in from the club in 6th place with a near PB and his fastest time for 9 years. More PBs were recorded by Justin Lane in 17th (58.47) and Neill Wright (59.23 – a PB by over 5 minutes). Chris Rampling in his first race for the club was in a creditable 34th place (61.28). Bob Fursey now in a new age group (M55) was the second club runner to claim a new club record in a time of 69.19. Claire Wilkins the only women runner from the club was 26th women and 10th in the W35 age group in a time of 1.15.
The high positions recorded by the club runners in this race also provides good in the Kent Road Running Grand Prix Series. McMeekin is now overall and masters individual leader and Lane is well placed in the M40 rankings. The next race in the Grand Prix Series is the Orpington High Elms 10 Km multi-terrain on the 10th June, followed by the North Downs Run (30 Km multi-terrain) on the 24th June.