Herne Hill Harrier John Kettle claimed a national title at the Sidcup 10 – which incorporated the British Masters Athletic Federation (BMAF) 10-mile championships – in clocking 54:55 to win the M35 category. 

Mel Edwards placed fifth in the women’s race in 1.03:43.

Further British veterans’ medals were won by Herne Hill athletes at the BMAF indoor track championships, as Gary Ironmonger won silver in the M50 800m (2:13.20), which was comfortably inside his previous indoor best and narrowly outside his lifetime best.

Steve Knight won silver in the M65 800m (2:44.42) and Rebecca Barrow clinched bronze in the W40 800m. Mary Setyabule finished fourth in the W45 800m (2:45.60).

Elsewhere, Herne Hill Harriers’ juniors Lucy Olsen and Lulu King raced to top 10 finishes at the Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships on Saturday,

Clubmate Stacey Ward was 22nd in the senior women’s 8km race, clocking 26 minutes 57 seconds. 

Olsen and King were both 10th in the U15 (4.5km, 18:59) and U13 (3km, 13:16) races respectively at Birmingham. 

As well as Ward, Herne Hill were represented by Chris Busaileh (65th, 37:27) and Jeff Cunningham (199th, 40:45) in the 12km senior men’s race.

Harriers’ athletes preparing for the London marathon were also competing in various half-marathons.

Sean Fitzpatrick was the pick of the bunch, running 118:40 in The Hague.

Andrew Grigg and Louis Waterman-Evans clocked near-identical times of 1.19:20 and 1.19.21 at the Surrey half-marathon, where Damien Wilson ran 1.34:57.

Mohammed Ismail clocked 1.18:35 at the Roding Valley half-marathon, while racing in Paris, Simon Messenger ran 1.21:00 to knock a further two minutes off his best.

Kelvin Barber was another to record a personal best, clocking 1.24:52 at Milton Keynes.