The 20th Brooks Paddock Wood half-marathon was won by Will Levett of Tonbridge AC ahead of a record field of 1,942 finishers from 2,400 entries on a warm Sunday morning.

The 13.1 mile route to Laddingford and back is rated one of the flattest in Britain but the course records held by Barry Royden (1.06.28 in 1998) and Alison Fletcher (1.15.22 in 2002) survived once again.

The 33-year-old winner ran a personal best 1 hour 8 minutes 43 seconds to finish a minute clear of South London Harrier Jason Simpson (M40, 1.09.50) with Paul Miller (1.12.57) of Bedford and County completing the podium.

Paul Hasler, winner of this race in 2006 for the hosts Paddock Wood AC, was fourth (1.13.46) ahead of former Tonbridge athlete Adrian Whitwam (1.14.11), who was representing the Army on this occasion.

Well placed local athletes included M40 Gareth Williams (10th, 1.15.23) of Medway and Maidstone, Ian Reid (13th, 1.15.56) of Medway and Maidstone and Gareth Robb (16th, 1.16.38) of Paddock Wood AC.

The leading masters’ award winners were Simon Hesketh (M40, 1.14.43) of Larkfield AC, Steve Smythe (M50, 1.20.19) for Dulwich Runners, Geoff Newton (M60, 1.26.12) from Tadworth AC and Pat Dobbs (M70, 1.33.10) of Thurrock Harriers.

Dulwich Runners, who held their own club championships in conjunction with this event, were the team winners from South London Harriers and Paddock Wood. Dartford Harriers, Cambridge Harriers and Medway and Maidstone AC completed the top six teams.

The women’s race was easily won by world indoor W45 1500m record holder Claire Elms (1.20.33) of Dulwich Runners from Rachael Elliott (1.21.48) of Team Kennet and Rosalind Kieran (1.23.17) of Herne Hill Harriers.

Paddock Wood’s Tina Oldershaw, the defending champion and 1998 winner, was fourth (1.23.26) and first W35 master ahead of fellow W35’s Gill Wheeler (1.24.17) of Hailsham and the unattached Maria Heslop (1.24.56).

Sharon Hawkins (W45, 1.26.27) of Maidstone Harriers and Ros Tabor (W55, 1.32.48) of the winning Dulwich team took the remaining masters awards.

Paddock Wood closed their team in second place behind Dulwich but ahead of Benfleet Running Club, Larkfield AC, Maidstone Harriers and Cambridge Harriers.