Town's big annual race is a record breaker

The event attracted a record 3,263 entries — 351 of them in a 2.6km fun run.

It was another triumph for Notts AC runner Stuart Spencer, who won the men’s race for the third successive year and the fifth time overall.

Spencer finished in 01:10:05, ahead of Joe Sweetnam-Powel (01:12:35) and Stuart King (01:12:45).

The women’s race was won by Lincoln Wellington AC’s Natalie Burns in 01:20:48, ahead of Rebecca Gallop (01:25:33) and Martha Hanby (01:26:38).

The event started from Outwood Academy Portland, after outgrowing its previous base at the Town Hall.

Race director Peter Fendley, chairman of race organisers Worksop Harriers, said: “The whole race seems to have been a success. It supported three main charities — Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP Sport), Autism East Midlands and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. The hospice received £540 in bag-drop donations alone and Dave and Julie’s tea and cake stall made more than £1,000 for the charity PACT at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.”

Fendley thanked all those who took part and supported the event.

He said the decision to move the race village from Worksop Town Hall to Outwood Academy Portland had not been taken lightly.

“The town hall had been a very successful location for us and we had been extremely well supported at the venue by Bassetlaw District Council,” he said.

“However, the growing popularity of our half marathon, and the building of the Savoy Cinema a few years ago, meant the available area to accommodate so many runners and their supporters was no longer adequate.

“We were fortunate that the Outwood Academy Portland, sited not far from the Town Hall, and just alongside the original course, was made available.

“That necessitated only slight course modifications, all within Clumber Park, with just a few extra metres required around Worksop College to ensure that runners did not miss out on the full 13.1 miles of fun.”

Fendley said setting up a race village at a new location to accommodate thousands of runners and supporters was a daunting task for a relatively small running club.

“We were, however, given excellent support from the Portland Academy and, along with the continued support from the district council and that of our own club members, we believe we have found a location that can support the half marathon for many years to come,” he said.

The race, which winds its way through Clumber Park, regularly ranks among the most scenic, well-organised and ‘value for money’ races, in the country, according to those voting at Runner’s World. It has been ranked as high as the second most scenic course in the UK Half Marathon list.