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Deal's Toby Smith claims a course record as he wins the 2020 Saxon Shore Half Marathon

Deal Tri’s Toby Smith set a new course record as he won Sunday’s Saxon Shore Half Marathon.

The out and back run, in its third year, took in the seafronts of Herne Bay and Whitstable. Smith’s course record time was clocked at 1hr 12:38mins.

Toby Smith from Deal wins the Saxon shore half marathon in a time of 1hr 12 mins setting a new course record (42665480)
Toby Smith from Deal wins the Saxon shore half marathon in a time of 1hr 12 mins setting a new course record (42665480)

He was one of four Deal Tri members competing along the seafronts of Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Smith was followed in by Matthew Collyer (1:17:15), Eryka Smith (1:59:31) and Jo Donaldson (2:03:51).

Phil Sluman was first home for the Dover Road Runners, finishing 11th overall from the 250 competing. He was first in his age group (M40-49) in a personal best time of 1hr 25:52 mins.

Next DRR home was his brother Dave Sluman, who finished in 27th position in a time of 1:31.37 and was followed by their father, Mark Sluman, in 1:42.45.

Dover Road Runners at the Saxon Shore Half Marathon (42697344)
Dover Road Runners at the Saxon Shore Half Marathon (42697344)

Natalee Potter put in a great performance and obtained a personal best with a time of 1:59.24. She was followed home by Claire Jones who completes the course in a time of 2hrs 29.36.

Ashford & District’s Paul Moses (M50-59) finished 13th overall and first in age group. He battled the wind to cross the the line an impressive 1:28:17.

Three Folkestone Running Club members bagged personal best times at the event.

Jason O’Callaghan (61st) clocked the club’s best time with 1hr 41:42mins.

Folkestone Running Club at the Saxon Shore Half marathon. (42697328)
Folkestone Running Club at the Saxon Shore Half marathon. (42697328)

Newcomer to the club, Ron Bell, was next over the line for the club in a time of 1:51:04. The ladies club representative Collette Windsor (18th woman overall and 4th W40-49) finished with a great time of 1:52:29.

The South Kent Harriers were also represented.

First home for Harriers was super-veteran Ray Pearce in 1:33:58, which was good enough to see him first over-60 male.

Not far behind was ultra runner Martin Salmon, who ran a personal best time of 1:34.43, just a week after his splendid marathon effort.

South Kent Harriers runners Ray Pearce, Martin Salmon, Margaret Connolly, Lee Sentenacq, Kevin Sohthen, Paul Hannay and John Eaton (42697446)
South Kent Harriers runners Ray Pearce, Martin Salmon, Margaret Connolly, Lee Sentenacq, Kevin Sohthen, Paul Hannay and John Eaton (42697446)

Next, also in a personal best time, was Kevin Southen in 1:38.57.

Running in his first half marathon, John Eaton made a promising debut with 1:39.29. Lee Sentenacq had a good run although four minutes outside his best and was timed at 1:42.08.

Harriers' only lady runner, Margaret Connolly, finished second over-60 with a swift 1:51.51.

To complete the South Kent contingent, Paul Hannay ran his second fastest time, like Martin only a week after his successful debut marathon, with 1:53.04.

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