Daniel Bradley and Nichola Evans, both of Tonbridge AC, secured top spots at Sporting Events UK's flagship race yesterday (Sunday 6 September). The fourth Chatham Maritime 10K was completed by 174 runners in 1:49:49 and, as befits the seafaring setting, they started in waves!

Daniel Bradley (32:16) enjoyed a comfortable margin of victory over two of Kent's leading master athletes: Spanish M40 Roger Vilardell (Petts Wood, 33:30) – with a breakthrough PB by a minute – and local favourite Mark Wilkins (M40 Medway & Maidstone, 33:59).

Nichola Evans (W35, 40:06) was another athlete to take a big step forward and narrowly missed sub-40 minutes after lopping 43 seconds off her previous best. The women's 'virtual' rostrum – no prizes were awarded on the day as part of the COVID-secure measures – was completed by W50 Allison Nye (40:30) and Natalie Jacques (Petts Wood, 48:03). 

Sporting Events UK deployed the now ubiquitous rolling start method, with small groups of socially-distanced runners starting in waves as they crossed the chip timing mats. Waves were arranged to reduce overtaking and the course was designed to iron out any unnecessary pinch points.

The route comprised two laps of the Dockside Outlet Centre and St Mary's Island in the Historic Dockyard Chatham – a former Royal Navy Dockyard and shipbuilding centre, established in the mid-16th century, situated on the River Medway in Kent.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is now a maritime museum, retail and leisure area and the adjacent St Mary's Island is a popular marina and residential area. The location provides a flat, fast course and a spacious event village.

Sporting Events UK has produced a brief video of the event here

Full race information and results are available via runABC race listing here

Image of Chatham Maritime Marina courtesy Wikipedia