Athletics: Another Heslop win at record-breaking Tonbridge Half Marathon

Pam Mills
MILES OF SMILES: Runners enjoy the scenic route around country lanes Photo: Sussex Sport Photography

The competitors raised more than £50,000 for the race’s headline charities, The Bridge Trust and Aspen, and for their own nominated charities, with a further 48 different organisations set to benefit.

The cool but sunny conditions proved ideal for the event. Daniel Gaffney of South London Harriers Athletics Club won the men’s race in a course record time of 1hr 11min 25sec, breaking the previous best by 75 seconds.

The win earned himself an additional £150 in prize money, which was donated by DC Access, the event’s principal sponsors.

Previous winner and record-holder Daniel Bradley of Tonbridge Athletic Club came second with Neil McClements in third place.

The women’s race was once again dominated by Maria Heslop of Tonbridge AC in a time of 1:22.32 – she has now won five times.

She completed the course nearly eight minutes ahead of second-placed Harriet Wooley of Tunbridge Wells Harriers with Charlotte Bates of Maidstone Harriers in third place.

The men’s team competition was won by Tonbridge AC, who were represented by Bradley, Julian Rendall and Luke Hooper, with Sevenoaks AC as runners-up and Tunbridge Wells Harriers coming third.

The ladies’ competition was won by Tunbridge Wells Harriers, consisting of Harriet Wooley, Pru Clements and Hayley Larkin, with Tonbridge AC in second place this time and Dartford Road Runners third.

The organisers were once again grateful to SE Medical for providing outstanding first aid cover for the event with several mobile, highly qualified first aiders situated at key points around the course and two ambulances crews based in Leigh and at the finish line.

There were more than 200 local volunteers who joined forces with them to make the event a great success, including the Tonbridge Lions and Tonbridge Rotary Club, the eighth Tonbridge Scouts from Hildenborough, 2250 Squadron Air Training Corps, the Fat Boy football team and Carers First.

Nice Work managed the race again, and a full list of the results can be seen at nice-work.org.uk

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