MEDWAY and Maidstone Athletic Club wrapped up the league championship with another team win in wet and gluey conditions at Mote Park.

The final race of the season saw the red and black shirts racing to victory with their top seven men scorers finishing in the top 30.

The club's Cathy Harvey also become the youngest lady to take the individual ladies’ championship in the league’s 12-year history. Harvey, 17, who takes her A-levels this summer at Rochester Grammar, was a doubful starter, having been troubled by a leg injury in recent weeks.

However, the need to complete one more qualifying race drove her to the start line and, while finishing behind Istead’s Debbie Percival in second place, she bagged enough points to take the title.

Percival eased round the five mile course to take her second win of the season and secured the veterans’ title.

The men’s race saw a guest appearance by former champion Allan Lee (Sevenoaks), who established a huge lead in the second half of the race to win by more than 400 metres.

Steve Roberts (Paddock Wood) come home in 29min 46sec as the official winner with David Law (Maidstone Harriers) and Andrew Green (Dartford RR) following him in.

This result means that Law hangs on to second place in the individual championship ahead of Green; Tim Bailey (Thanet) having already secured the championshp last month.

Invicta East Kent, who were last year’s joint champions, had three in the top 10 finishers, including Paul Ross-Davies who was the leading over 50 runner.

However, their championship charge failed late in the season owing to injury to their leading ladies and they had to settle for third place this time around.

The over 40 championship was taken by Michael Clark (Sevenoaks) who took the title away from the holder Ray Pearce (Istead) by finishing just ahead of him at Mote Park.

Maidstone Harriers had their best outing of the season, with Michael Nore finishing in seventh place and their top three lady runners (Kim Howes, Sharon Hawkins and Paula Stockton) finishing among the top 12, and the home team took second place on the day.

Mike Stacey held on to the over 50 championship and Sue McKenna took the ladies’ over 45 title.

KENT FITNESS LEAGUE, leading men (Mote Park): 1 Alan Lee (Sevenoaks AC, guest) 28.04, 2 Steve Roberts (Paddock Wood AC) 29.46, 3 David Law (Maidstone H) 29.53, 4 Andrew Green (Dartford RR) 29.59, 5 Tatsuo Yoshiwara (Invicta EK AC) 30.23, 6 Andy Girling (Invicta EK AC) 30.37, 7 Michael Gore (Maidstone H) 30.43, 8 Paul Ross-Davies (Invicta EK AC) 30.45, 9 Alan Newman (Medway & Maid AC) 30.57, 10 Dave Morris (Medway & Maid AC) 30.59, 11 Daniel Farrow (Thanet RR) 30.59, 12 Michael Clark (Sevenoaks AC) 31.02, 13 Philip Wallace (Medway & Maid AC) 31.05, 14 Raymond Pearce (Istead & Ifield H) 31.07, 15 Chris Desmond (Sevenoaks AC) 31.09, 16 Derek George (Istead & Ifield H) 31.15, 17 Josh Nice (Medway & Maid AC) 31.33, 18 Andy Alison (Medway & Maid AC) 31.43, 19 Ian Stokes (Invicta EK AC) 31.45, 20 Nigel Cook (Thanet RR) 31.53, 21 Mike Stacey (Maidstone H) 31.56, 22 David Thornby (Maidstone H) 32.00, 23 Phil Smith (Paddock Wood AC) 32.05, 24 Gary Bryant (Dartford RR) 32.16, 25 Bob Fursey (Medway & Maid AC) 32.20.

Leading ladies (Mote Park): 1 Debbie Percival (istead & Ifield H) 34.29, 2 Cathy Harvey (Medway & Maid AC) 35.21, 3 Martina Ryan (Plumstead Runners) 35.25, 4 Heather Fitzmaurice-Cotton (Sevenoaks AC) 35.58, 5 Sarah Mcguire (Canterbury H) 35.59, 6 Emma Harraden (Medway & Maid AC) 36.31, 7 Laura Sell (Dartford RR) 36.32, 8 Kim Howes (Maidstone H) 36.53, 9 Diane Maltby (Dartford RR) 37.25, 10 Janet Cobby (New Eltham J) 37.29, 11 Sharon Hawkins (Maidstone H) 37.50, 12 Paula Stockton (Maidstone H) 37.52, 13 Lisa Clayton (Invicta EK AC) 37.53, 14 Sue James (Paddock Wood AC) 37.59, 15 Marcia Peacock (Sevenoaks AC) 37.59,

Teams (Mote Park): 1 Medway & Maidstone AC 159 pts, 2 Maidstone H 220, 3 Invicta EK AC 235, 4 Istead & Ifield H 351, 5 Dartford RR 373, 6 Paddock Wood AC 449.

Final championship placings: 1 Medway & Maidstone AC 105 pts, 2 Dartford RR 99, 3 Invicta EK AC 96, 4 Istead & Ifield H 88, 5 Maidstone H 85, 6 Sevenoaks AC 79.