Tom Collins ended years of waiting when he was crowned Kent Cross-Country League champion on Saturday, writes Alan Newman.

Dean Lacy (Cambridge Harriers) won the final race of the 2013-14 league at Parkwood School, Swanley but it was second-placed Collins (Medway and Maidstone) who took a well-deserved first individual title after several years within sight of the summit.

Julian Rendall (Tonbridge) made up the podium as he led his squad to team success at both four and 12-to-score.

Chris Minns (M40 Beckenham, 15th) and Richard Tomlinson (M45 M&M, 16th) were the leading master athletes and the age group league champions were M40 Jim Addison (Beckenham), M50 Kevin Williams (Ashford) and M60 Gerald Baron (Larkfield).

The over-70 men compete on a shorter course with the women and the league champion was the only man to run in all four races, Bryon Taylor, of Tunbridge Wells Harriers.

Alice Heather-Hayes (Tunbridge Wells Harriers) maintained the masters’ hold on the women’s trophy following the success of W45 Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood) last winter.

Elaine Rayner of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers won a close race with under-20 junior Nicole Taylor (Tonbridge) by five seconds. Heather-Hayes (W35, Tunbridge Wells Harriers) was clear in third to take both the Cliff Temple individual and Ron Hale masters trophies. Medway and Maidstone took team success on the day and overall.