Larkfield AC took their second successive team victory in the Kent Fitness League at Canterbury on Sunday.

Eager to prove that their performance at Swanley was no flash in the pan, the blue and yellow colours were well to the fore yet again as the Larks led in the team classification ahead of arch rivals Paddock Wood AC and they now stand three points clear at the top of the championship table with five races to come.

Despite appalling weather conditions – heavy rain and biting temperatures – nearly 350 competitors turned out to do battle around the woodland paths of Rough Common. Paddock Wood’s James Ridger negotiated the difficult conditions with ease as he powered round the 5.2 mile course at the head of the field.

Nick Wood (Dartford Harriers) was in close attendance in second place and Istead’s David Castle, Editor of Running Fitness magazine, came home in third.

Larkfield had four men in the top 20 finishers – Graeme Knott (6th), Simon Hesketh (11th), Steve Groom (12th) and Ashley Howes (13th).

Garon Heslop (Canterbury Harriers) was the leading over-40 man in seventh place while John Wilkins (Invicta) was the first over-50 in 24th place.