Runners take on Blandford 10k

By [nbrown]

A RECORD 255 runners took part in this year's Blandford Bridges Run on Sunday.

A new course record was set by Nathan Shrubb, who ran under the colours of Morpeth Harriers in Northumberland with the Bryanston School team.

The history teacher started work at the independent school near Blandford last September and coaches athletics and cross country.

He said: "It was really, really good and I'll definitely run it again. I've been to a lot of races and the atmosphere has a nice community feel at this relatively small event. The marshalling was spot on, and it was great to see so many people out on the streets cheering us on.

"But I hadn't realised it would be so hilly."

First woman home was Sian Thomas, daughter of former Mayor of Shaftesbury Win Harvey. She was visiting her mother from her home in Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, and finished with a personal best of 39 minutes 43 seconds.

The oldest runner was Geoff Mills, aged 77, and the youngest was Josh Day, 15, of the Gillingham Trotters who was taking part in his first adult race.

The course started with a lap of the Blandford School grounds and the slightly less than 10km route took in Mortain bridge at the river Stour, Stour Meadows, Preetz Bridge, the North Dorset Trailway, the Milldown, Blandford Heights industrial estate and finishing back at the school.

The children's race consisted of two laps of the school grounds and attracted only seven entries, but was keenly contested and ended with Lewis Murphy-Parry being first boy home and Anna Harbord, first girl.

The event was sponsored by Blandford Laundry Services, whose proprietor Steve Guy launched the event as part of the Charter 400 celebrations in Blandford in 2005. Other sponsors were Isis Water and North Dorset District Council, with support from Blandford St John Ambulance cadets, who handed out water at the finish.

Proceeds from the day will go to the Les Pike Memorial Fund for medical equipment.

For the full results, visit the website www.blandfordbridgesrun.co.uk