Maria Heslop of Paddock Wood AC broke the course record by one second and Tom Collins of Medway and Maidstone AC won overall by eleven seconds in a thrilling Larkfield 10k on Sunday morning.

Collins, winner of this race in 2008 and last year in an outright course record of 33min19sec, was a popular victor in 33.55 from Ben Louch (34.06) of Dartford Road Runners. Clayton Barrett (34.48) of Medway and Maidstone completed the podium.

Medway and Maidstone won the men’s team prize ahead of the hosts.

Heslop’s personal best (36.55) in seventh place overall erased Tina Oldershaw’s 2010 course record and moved the Paddock Wood athlete to seventh in the current W40 UK rankings.

Larkfield AC members Nicola Groom (39.44) and Sarah Anne Mooney (40.30) were next across the finish line in the grounds of the East Malling Research Centre.

Sue James (47.00) of Maidstone won the W55 masters’ award representing Paddock Wood, second in the team race behind Guines of France. The team from Pas-de-Calais had four athletes in the top ten places.