Kiplimo Kimutai claimed the men's title and Magdaline Syombua scooped the women's crown.

The weather for the 24th staging of the hugely popular sporting event was in complete contrast to last year as pretty much perfect conditions of rain and only a slight nagging wind replaced the sun and high temperatures of 2007.

The trio of Kimutai, twice World Mountain Running Grad Prix champion Martin Cox and former Hastings winner Michael Coleman led the way during the opening half of the hilly 13.1 circuit before the Kenyan, who had only flown into England with Syombua the previous Friday, began to pull away.

There had been fears that the chilly weather might hamper Kimutai but this was dispelled as he ignored the wind along the seafront to finish in a good time of 1.05.24 and take the title back to Kenya for the 13th time in 17 years.

Runner-up Cox was more than a minute behind the winner and third-placed Coleman was a further minute-and-a-half adrift.

Leading local man was Daniel Anderson who did extremely well to finish eighth in 1.13.02.
Syombua did brilliantly to claim a top 10 spot overall after crossing the line in 1.14.20. Three times women's winner Birhan Dagne (1.15.36) and twice runner-up Alice Braham (1.16.57) provided her main challenge.

The event attracted 4,803 entrants and such were the numbers that it took four-and-a-half minutes for them all to cross the start line.

The younger athletes contested the Mini-Run for boys and girls aged 11-16. First home was Adam Clarke with Ed Kinch second and Max Thomas third. The winner of the girls' race was Stacey Clusker who raced clear of runner-up Rachael Grass and third-placed Grace Baker.

Top 10 finishers: Kiplimo Kimutai 1.05.24, 2 Martin Cox 1.06.28, 3 Michael Coleman 1.08.06, 4 Adrian Mussett 1.08.28, 5 Jamie Atkinson 1.09.47, 6 Tom Collins 1.11.59, 7 Julian Rendall 1.12.00, 8 Daniel Anderson 1.13.02, 9 Barry Royden 1.13.20, 10 Magdaline Syombua 1.14.20.