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Action from Lydd 20

Perfect marathon prep on Romney Marsh

1,100 plus enjoyed perfect spring marathon prep runs in decent conditions at the Nice Work promoted Brett Lydd 20 and Brett Lydd Half Marathon on Sunday (8 March).

Brett Lydd 20 and Brett Lydd Half Marathon are as flat as they come, being held entirely on the broad lanes of Romney Marsh around Lydd, the most Southerly town in Kent and an historically prosperous corporate member of the Cinque Ports as a limb of Romney. Lydd was the very first airport built in Britain after the Second World War and is now known as London Ashford Airport.

Fastest on the 20-mile runway was Tom Collins (Medway & Maidstone) in 1:59:16 – the only athlete inside 6-min/mile pace. Chris Biddle (Dartford Harriers, 2:00:26 PB) and Lewis Baker (Cambridge Harriers, 2:00:56) would surely have joined the Medway man under two hours in less breezy conditions.

The drinks were on Jackie Stretton (Springfield Striders, 2:13:15) as she was rewarded with a PB and new course record for her victory by 38 seconds over W40 Helen Gaunt (Tonbridge, 2:13:53) and Teresa Murphy (Kent AC, 2:18:01). Just over 750 finished the 20-miler in 5:15:17, where a hard-earned £100 prize was on offer to the winners.

There were close on 400 finishers in 3:56:40 in the 13th Brett Lydd Half Marathon and 150 of those beat two hours on the scenic out and back course. The leading men were Marshall Smith (Ashford, 1:13:13), Ed Bovington (Istead & Ifield, 1:14:56 PB) and Dan Bradley (Tonbridge, 1:16:33).

It was an all-Masters podium in the women's race as W35 Kana Akimoto (Mornington Chasers, 1:30:20) finished well clear of W45 Kerstin Sung (Maidstone Harriers, 1:38:25 PB) and W40 Sheryl Stoakes (unattached, 1:40:01 PB) with W55 category runners Christine Costiff (Ashford & District RR, 1:41:07) and Kim Howes (Swale Combined, 1:42:03) not far behind.

Race profits are donated to the Mayor of Lydd's Charity Fund and the event was sponsored by Brett the UK's largest independent construction and building materials group.

Full results at runABC South race listing here

Image courtesy Nice Work/Brett Lydd 20

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