Pictures John Hopkins
AFTER the rain, the sun shone brightly for the Warrington Running Festival as hundreds of participants gathered at the town hall for a half-marathon, 10k, 5k and Junior event.
Organised by RunThrough, the event started and finished at the iconic Golden Gates of the Town Hall. Runners and spectators were blessed with clear skies and sunshine, creating a perfect atmosphere after heavy rain the previous day.
In the half-marathon first male to finish was James Horman from Liverpool Harriers with a chip time of 1:10:52.
Second was Liam Burthem in a time of 1:11:42 and third was Jonathan Manning in 1:11:44.
First female was Hel Len in 1:04:28, second was Stephanie Kessell (Leeds City) in a time of 1:20.54 and third was April Thorpe (Clayton le Moors) in 1:23.22.
In the 10k first male was William Knight from Ashford AC in a time of 33:32, second was Luke Oldfield from Manchester Harriers in a time of 34:59 and Marcus Pearson, Stoke Fit in 35:07.
The first female was Lisa Craig in 37:26, second was Helen Taylor from Telford Ac in 38:01 and third was Hannah Butcher from Hillsborough & Rivelin in 40:04.
In the 5k first male was Harvey Hermiston in 15:46, second was Alex Macilwee from Liverpool RC in 16:27 and third was Anthony O’Brien from Merseytri in 16:26.
First female was Melanie Walls from Wigan and District Harriers in 19:18, second was Poppy Baker in 19:52 and third was Grace Rashud from Warrington Athletic Club in 19:56.
The Junior race was won by Seb Hughes from Warrington Ac in a time of 5:13 and Emi Gandy, also from Warrington Ac in 5:29.
Full results can be found here https://www.runthrough.co.uk/results
This year’s event marked the festival’s fifth anniversary, continuing its legacy as an important fixture in the running calendar.
The event was a community celebration, with many runners embracing the cheerful atmosphere. Some participants wore costumes, while Warrington Wolves mascot Wolfie also entered the spirit of the occasion.
One notable duo travelled from Derby to run the 10K dressed as a pair of breasts to promote their sports bra company, Booby Doo.
The festival featured a flat and fast road-closed course, offering runners an excellent opportunity to achieve a new personal best.
Each participant received a commemorative medal upon completing their race. The top three male and female runners in each race were also awarded a trophy in the event village.
The festival provided a significant boost to local causes, with St Rocco’s Hospice continuing its role as the exclusive charity partner. The event also encouraged fundraising for other organisations, including WHH Charity and the Children’s Burns Trust, allowing runners to participate for discounted entry fees in exchange for raising money.
In addition to the races, Bank Park hosted a vibrant event village filled with entertainment, activities, and food vendors. This made the festival an engaging experience for both runners and spectators throughout the morning.
Click on the image to see a gallery of nearly 50 photos by John Hopkins
