Almost 500 local runners and their families took advantage of a warm spring day to enjoy the 13th staging of the Sevenoaks 7 race in the scenic surroundings of Knole Park on Sunday. The race, organised by Sevenoaks Athletic Club and sponsored by Bat & Ball Sports, is a popular event in the Kent road running calendar and attracted runners from throughout the county. A challenging 7 mile multi-terrain race over a 2 lap course within Knole Park, the race this year proved to be very open at the front of the field in the absence of last year’s winner Allan Lee of Sevenoaks AC. Early in the race Barney Southin of the Serpentine Running Club and Andrew Green of Dartford Road Runners were contesting the lead but on the hilly sections of the course Barney Southin  started to pull away and by the finish had opened up a lead of 50 sec to finish in 40 34. Andrew Green finished in 2nd  place in a time of 41.24. In the Ladies race Deidre Mc Dermot of Tonbridge Athletic Club won in an impressive time of 43.38 in 7th place overall and was followed home by local athlete Tina Oldershaw of Paddock Wood AC who finished in 45.13. Tina, a local Sevenoaks girl, began her running career with Sevenoaks AC and has for the last few years been one of the top female runners in Kent on the roads and over cross country. In the highly competitive male veteran categories Martin Whittington of Dartford Road Runners in 8th place overall won the M40 category and Steve Smythe of Dulwich Runners was M50 winner in 6th place overall. Also producing an impressive performance was Michael Mann of Dulwich, who finished 19th overall in a time of 46.08 to win be the first man over 60 to finish. Winner of the over 70 category was Ron Denney of Sevenoaks AC in a time of 65.22. Not to be outdone the lady veterans also produced some excellent performances with Andrea Pickup of Dulwich winning the W35 category in 46.20 and Christine Dawson of Dulwich the W45 race in 53.42. Sally Musson of Tonbridge AC won the W55 category for the second year in an impressive time of 50.49. But perhaps the most impressive performance of the day came from 59 year old Ros Tabor of Dulwich who recorded the best for age performance of the race as measured by the World Masters Athletics age and performance index. Dulwich Runners, using the event as part of their Club Championships, were heavily represented in the race and performed well in the team events. With 4 competitors in the first 10 to finish Dulwich Runners were comfortable winners in the mens event. Sevenoaks AC, heavily depleted by injury finished in 9th place with Andrew Mead the first home in 22nd place. In the Ladies team event Dulwich Runners were again victorious with the Seveoaks AC ladies team equal 3rd.  Heather Fitzmaurice led the Sevenoaks team home in 7th place and was well supported by Pauline Dalton and Lindsey Shing, both still recovering from the London Marathon just two weeks ago. The Junior Race, run over a hilly 2.5km course, attracted a field of 20 runners and produced some good performances. The clear overall winner was Alistair Bishop of Sevenoaks AC in the Boys 13-15 age group in 10.04, followed by a good run from the younger Matthew Johnson of Bennett Memorial School in the Boys 11-12 age group in 10.24. In third position was Alice Connelly of Tonbridge Grammar School in the Girls 13-15 age group in 10.42, closely followed by the younger Heather Butcher of Cambridge Harriers in the Girls 11-12 age group in 10.44. Good times were also recorded by Sam Annetts of Sevenoaks AC in 10.52, Isobel Connelly of Woldingham Girls School in 10.54, Jon Pairman of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers in 11.04, Jordan Chambers of Loose Junior School in 11.20, and Oliver Blunden of Skinners School in 11.26. The race attracted many local runners and full results can be found at www.7oaks-ac.org.uk . Race Director John Denyer commented that with so many local runners taking part, the club are keen to attract new members and emphasised that they cater for runners of all abilities.