East Peckham 10K is a small but perfectly formed road race held in the heart of the Kentish countryside, close to the tourist attraction and campsite at The Hop Farm at Paddock Wood.

This year's race on Sunday 30 July was fully sold out, with numbers restricted for safety due to the narrow country lanes, and there were 321 finishers in 1:27:16 on gun times. The event is managed by Nice Work on behalf of Paddock Wood & District Lions Club, supporting local charities.

The course is a single-lap, figure-eight-shaped circuit on flat, quiet, well-surfaced roads. The start and finish is on East Peckham village playing fields but the rest of the course is on PB-enabling smooth tarmac surfaces.

The race was sponsored by Italian men's clothing company Boggi Milano which is holding a 50% summer sale in the UK at present – click here for details. Runners could also enjoy a complimentary post-race cool-down session led by Alex of Jambi Yoga.

The race winner was as stylish as he was unheralded. Glen Stallard (31:36) runs unattached and cruised home comfortably clear of a group of good quality club athletes – mainly from Tonbridge AC. The next four were from the local club with Dan Bradley (32:02) and Nathan Chapman (33:44) completing the men's rostrum. M55 Richard Tomlinson (Medway & Maidstone AC, 35:43) caught the eye among the higher age groups with 10th place overall.

Tonbridge AC also provided the women's winner and five of the top six. Imogen Amos (37:51) led the way for TAC with W35 Lianne Leakey (Hailsham Harriers, 42:05) second – exactly equalling her PB set while finishing third in this race in 2021!

W45 Lizzie Owen (42:13 PB) enjoyed a breakthrough performance to take two minutes off her previous best, finishing just ahead of her experienced Tonbridge team-mate Tina Oldershaw (W55, 42:19).

After dominating both team scores in this final race of the inaugural 2022-23 Nice Work Kent Club Championship season, Tonbridge AC overhauled the leaders Dover Road Runners to claim the title by 18 points from Dover RR and Folkestone Running Club. The full finishing order is available here

The chunky finishers' medal featured the oast houses and hop fields the area is renowned for and was mounted on a smart navy blue Lions Club ribbon (pictured above).        

All the results and race details are available via the runABC race listing here.

Photo: East Peckham 10K medal 2023 from Nice Work on Facebook