The cathedral city of Canterbury has been a pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages, being the end destination of the 230km (138 miles) Pilgrims Way historic route from Winchester in Hampshire to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, home of the shrine of the martyred archbishop, St Thomas Becket.

The Furley Page Canterbury 10 does not have quite the same history. However, over a thousand devotees make their annual journey to Christ Church University Sports Centre on the outskirts of the medieval walled city, overlooked by its imposing cathedral founded in 597AD.

The Canterbury 10 course starts in Spring Lane and joins the Pilgrims Way to head for the countryside on quiet country lanes and farm tracks, through the idyllic village settlements of Bekesbourne, Patrixbourne, and Bridge within the Kent Downs National Landscape area.

The route is undulating with an elevation gain of 564 feet (172 metres). The most significant climbs come at three and seven miles but the final mile is mercifully downhill. Local club Invicta East Kent AC has organised this traditional event for many years and although it is almost always held the day after the South of England Cross Country Championships, it invariably attracts a large and good quality field.

The first man home this year was Cole Gibbens (Tonbridge AC) in a personal best of 51:10 – almost a minute clear of Marshall Smith (Ashford AC, 52:08). Dylan Rigby, of Bristol & West AC, was third in a PB of 53:46 and Barry Stephenson (Dartford Harriers, 53:59) took the first M40 masters award in fourth overall.

A total of 27 athletes beat the hour, including the first two female finishers. Rebecca Weston (Invicta East Kent, 57:17 PB) enjoyed the home crowd's support as she took the win from Chelsea Baker (Bristol & West AC, 57:45 PB) and Zoe Tracey (unattached, 63:37). W45 Abbie Kirkham (Deal Tri Club, 66:36 PB) led the higher age groups as 19 women went under 70 minutes.

Results and race reports are available at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Invicta East Kent's Canterbury 10 race website