Sun shines on record number of runners taking part in the Newbury Athletics Club’s Newbury 10k race

The sun shone on the record number of runners taking part in the long-awaited return of the Newbury 10k at the weekend.

The multi-terrain event – organised by Newbury Athletic Club on bank holiday Monday – easily reached its 1,000-runner capacity a week before race day and was forced to turn away dozens of late requests for places as it made a return after a four year absence.

Hundreds of runners – whose ages spanned eight decades, from 16 to 86 – successfully completed the race, taking on a challenging new course which started and ended in Newbury town centre and included two stretches along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

“This was a triumphant return of a popular local event,” said Jeff Bird, race director at Newbury Athletics Club. “We’ve been bowled over by the support it has received from runners, landowners and sponsors since announcing its return at the end of December.

“A huge number of people need to be thanked for volunteering their time on race day and in the weeks of planning beforehand, and we also wish to acknowledge the support from residents who turned out around the course to encourage the runners.”

The prizes were awarded by Newbury’s new mayor, Nigel Foot, in one of his first public engagements since taking office earlier in May, supported by representatives from race sponsors, Gardner Leader, Stryker and A-Plan Insurance, and the race’s charity partner, Berkshire Youth.

Profits from the race will help the organisation support young people transition from childhood to young adulthood through affordable and engaging leisure activities.

Picking up from where he left off in 2019, Callum O’Neil led home the men’s race for his third successive win. He was joined on the podium by second-placed Jacob Rainier from Aldershot, Farnham & District and third-placed Simon Whatson, representing Team Kennet.

The women’s race saw a convincing victory for Newbury AC’s Josie Robertson over Reading AC’s Katherine West and the experienced Nina Martin. Already an accomplished cross-country runner, this was seventeen-year-old Josie’s first senior road race over the distance.

The 10k was preceded by junior races over 900m for five to 11-year-olds and 1,500m for under 16s. More than 150 young competitors took part across the two races, led home by Jack Dando and Charlotte Flitton in the five-eight years; Jude Bennett and Penelope Lyth in the 9-11 years; Xavier Lee and Charlotte Bailey in the 10-13 years; and Josh Norton and Katya Burgess in the 14-15 years age group.