The East Peckham 10K on Sunday 27 July 2025 drew another healthy field of 321 finishers to the quiet Kent village, positioned where the River Bourne joins the River Medway. Before we get into the race report, here's a fun fact about East Peckham...
 
It was the venue of the first-ever speeding conviction in the UK! According to Wikipedia, in 1896, Walter Arnold of East Peckham was summonsed for travelling at 8 mph (13 km/hr) in a motorised vehicle, thereby exceeding the speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/hr). He was chased and captured by a policeman on a bicycle. Arnold was fined one shilling, plus costs.

Around 90 competitors would have had that bicycling policeman interested nearly 130 years ago as they completed the lovely rural course at East Peckham at a faster average pace than our daring felon, Walter Arnold, did in 1896 – and that was without motorised assistance!

Fastest was Tonbridge AC's Dan Bradley (32:36) – winner of the Romney Marsh 10K earlier this month – from his team mate, M45 Craig Halsey (33:58). M40 Rob Jackaman (Dartford Harriers, 34:06) completed the men's podium.

Only the top three men finished ahead of the flying W45 Helen Gaunt (Tonbridge AC, 34:44) who also won the Folkestone 10 in April. With this performance, Gaunt moves to equal third on the UK W45 rankings for 2025. The women's race runners-up were W50 Carole Coulon (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers, 37:03 PB) and Katrina Murphy (unattached, 41:34).

Nice Work Race Management organises the East Peckham 10K on behalf of Paddock Wood & District Lions Club. The race helps to raise funds for local charities and good causes. The colourful finishers' medal is a highlight, as it pictures the famous Kent oast houses and hop fields in the local area.   

Full results and previous race reports at the runABC race listing here.

Photo from 2024 race courtesy of Nice Work