TOP honours in the Bethersden 5-mile road race went to husband and wife running aces Steve and Kerry Clarke, of Medway/Maidstone AC.

The event was also a personal triumph for Ashford AC runner Helen Wheeler, the defending champion from Folkestone, who carved a huge margin off her personal best to go under 30 minutes for the first time with 29:04.

But she had to concede her title this year to Kerry, from Greenhithe, who had a storming run with 28:14. Dartford’s Laura Sell was third with 31:25.

For the second week in a row there was a remarkable husband and wife double from the north Kent duo with Steve and Kerry having also taken the men’s and women’s trophies last weekend at the Greenwich 10k.

Steve was pushed all the way on a wet and windy Bethersden course by visitor Charles Sykes of Swindon Harriers who finished nine seconds adrift. Clarke won the men’s crown with 25:01 from Sykes in 25:10 and third was Steve’s M&M teammate Pat Curren with 25:16.

Last year’s men’s winner Barry Royden (M&M), who had set the course record of 24:17, was fourth with 25:25.

Money from the race, which had a splendid 280-strong entry this year, is vital in providing equipment for Bethersden School.

MAIN RESULTS: 1 S Clark (MM) 25:01, 2 C Sykes (Swindon H) 25:10, 3 P Curran (MM) 25:16, 4 B Royden (MM) 25:25, 5 N Renault (MM) 26:00, 6 R Maddams (London Irish) 26:37, 7 T Yoshiwaea (IEK) 26:54, 8 D Jackson (MM) 26:59, 9 L McMeekin (MM) 27:01, 10 R Palmer (Cant Harriers) 27:05, 11 M Hinson (Senlac) 27:09, 12 I Hough (MM) 27:45, 13 M Skeet (Cant H) 27:52, 14 J McNeill (MM) 28:15, 15 D Green (A&D RR) 28:23.

Women: 1 K Clarke (MM) 28:14, 2 H Wheeler (Ash AC) 29:04, 3 L Sell (Dartford H) 31:25, 4 J Cliff (Deal Tri) 32:20, 5 B Jameson (Dartford RRC) 32:41,