MARTIN FORDER led Istead and Ifield to team victory in the Cliffe Woods 10k held in oppressive conditions on Sunday.

As the mercury climbed to 30° Celsius the AAA 1500m finalist accelerated away from the field to win by 48 seconds from David Hall of Dartford Road Runners.

Forder had earlier been tracked by Medway and Maidstone’s Lee McMeekin but pulled away at halfway before passing Cooling Castle with a clear lead.

McMeekin slipped to third ahead of his team mate Adrian Lowther who had completed two track races for his club in the Southern League the previous day.

Japanese student Tatsuo Yoshiwara, of Invicta East Kent, and the exceptional M50 master, Peter Russell, of South Kent Harriers, completed the top six.

There was drama in the women’s race when the race leader, Annabelle Stearns, of Gravesend Road Runners, collapsed from heat exhaustion in the finishing straight.

Sarah Simmons, of Medway and Maidstone AC, who had assumed she was heading for second spot, passed Stearns as she was recovering her composure just 30m from the line.

Claire Colmer, of Bexley AC, was a close third as 25 seconds covered the podium positions. Nicola Susans finished fourth for the emerging Larkfield AC who claimed the team awards.