Christine Costiff was knocked off top spot for the first time this week in the A&D RRC Lockdown League.

Week six of the countywide running league, run by Ashford & District Road Running Club, saw competitors tackle a two-mile challenge.

Ashford & District’s Costiff had dominated the ladies racing up until now, claiming top spot in each of the last five weeks, but she was beaten over two miles by South Kent Harriers’ Margaret Connolly.

The two were separated by just three seconds, with Connolly - racing only for the second week - finishing in an adjusted time of 10:47. Gill O’Connor is second in the overall standings and took third place this week.

Following closely behind was Marie Watson (SK Harriers), leading 35-44 two-mile runner Liz Weeks (Ashford Legends & Rejects), Jo Daniels (Dover Road Runners) and Karen Seymour (Sittingbourne Striders).

In the team standings A&D RRC are eight points clear of the South Kent Harriers.

Medway & Maidstone AC’s Richard Tomlinson (9:14) returned to the top of the pile this week to edge out the Folkestone RC pair of Stephen Male and Ian McGilloway in the men’s results.

Tomlinson’s M&M club-mates Justin Lane and Alun Rodgers took fourth and sixth respectively, with Ashford AC’s Marshall Smith - the best ranked under-40 - sandwiched inbetween.

First time runner in the competition Andrew Noble (A&D) took a creditable eighth place.

Folkestone RC lead the way in the men’s team standings ahead of Medway & Maidstone and Ashford AC.

Antel Muller (Medway & Maidstone) returned after a two-week absence to claim top spot among the under-35 ladies but A&D’s Rhian Shrimplin extended her lead at the top of the table with a second place finish.

Linda-Jean Delport (A&D) took first for the fifth time in the 45-54 age group, but is only two points clear of Marie Watson. Tracey Calnan (A&D) claimed third with her best finish so far.

In the over-60s men, Ray Pearce continues his fine form with another maximum - six from six now - followed home by the Dover RR pairing of Mark Sluman and Steve Partridge.

Runners are this week taking on a seven-mile challenge.

The Lockdown League is a friendly, virtual running competition which is open to members and non members alike.

Each week a running distance is posted by A&D member and Lockdown League creator, Ricky Hickman. Entrants then have all week to submit a time for their run over the specified distance.

The Lockdown League has proved extremely popular since it started, and has attracted runners from 26 different clubs as well as some unattached individuals, averaging 196 competitors each week.

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