A NEW member of Invicta East Kent Athletic Club won the Canterbury Half-Marathon on Sunday, beating last year’s winning time by four minutes.

Aboura Mahiaddine came home ahead of the field in a time of 70 minutes, 34 seconds, with Christian Nicolson second in 73 minutes 18 seconds and John Creane, from Folkestone Running Club, third in 75 minutes 9 seconds.

The first woman to cross the finish line was Sharon Hawkins, from Invicta East Kent, with a time of 89 minutes 5 seconds. She was also the winning woman in last year’s race which she ran in 87 minutes 51 seconds.

This year 601 runners set off from the start line in Merton Lane, Canterbury, sent on their way by former world featherweight boxing champion Barry McGuigan.

The half-marathon was run in aid of the Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent and was organised by David Denne, chairman of the hospices’ fund-raising committee.

He said: “We were very lucky with the weather and it was a tremendous turn-out. I was absolutely delighted with the support we received."

The course followed a circular rural route, starting and finishing in Merton Lane, where large crowds cheered the runners on their way and on their return.

The prizes were presented by Bill Brett, from the Brett Group, one of the main sponsors, along with the Kent Messenger Group and Invicta East Kent.

Other help was given by Canterbury Rugby Club, Polo Farm and the Forest of Blean Rotary Club.

This was the second Canterbury Half-marathon organised by the hospices. Last year’s race raised £17,000.