DEAL Tri Club are confident of attracting a field of more than 500 runners for their Mercury Dover Half Marathon on Sunday.

The race, now in its third year, has proved to be a popular and challenging event. The start and finish is at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School and the course is along the country lanes around Guston, Langdon and Sutton.

For the first time, the race is also acting as this year’s Kent Half Marathon Championship with entry open to runners born in Kent or who have resided in the county for the past nine months.

More than 300 of Sunday’s runners will be competing for the county title as well as for the Dover Mercury crown. Among the leading contenders will be Dover’s England cross-country international Mike Coleman, who won the inaugural race two years ago. He was unable to defend his title last year.

Another man to watch out for is 19-year-old Neil Renault, from Walmer, who won the Kent 10-mile championship at Canterbury last month.

In addition to the main race, for which there will be prizes for different age categories, there is also a 1,500m race for youngsters of 16 or under.

The main race starts at 10am, with the junior race getting under way at 10.30am.