10th English Half Marathon was "one of best ever"

A total of 7,000 runners from four continents helped make the 10th annual Warrington English Half Marathon “one of the best ever” according to Race Director Rob Griffiths.

The three-day event across Warrington, consisted of the first ever GS Active Lifestyle Expo, a Pasta Party, EHM Night 5k, EHM10K and the classic half marathon distance.

The event kicked off on the Friday evening in Victoria Park with the EHM5k Night Race. There was a stunning light display provided by Culture Warrington, illuminating the track as runners finished the 5k around the park. The team of amazing volunteers braved the cold with their glow sticks, guiding runners around the course.

For the first time the event hosted an expo supported by Golden Square. The GS Active Lifestyle Expo was held at Old Market Place, Warrington with runners and the general public being able to interact with a number of exhibitors and seminar talks.

The 10k saw Warrington winners in both the male and female categories. Lee Fuller of Warrington Club took the men’s 10k crown with a 2-second victory over Lee Hughes of Lymm Runners with Anthony Lawlor of Knowsley Harriers coming in third.

Warrington Road Runner’s Tracy Entwistle won the female 10k title in a time of 40:54, with Carmel Triggs in 2nd and Gemma Floyd of Morpeth Harriers in third place.

Steven Bayton of the Hallamshire Harriers won the half marathon in an impressive time of 1:07:35. Nick McCormick of Morpeth and St. Helens Sutton’s Matthew Crehan took second and third place respectively.

The female half marathon race was closely contested with Catherine Carrdus of Lythan St. Anne’s Road Runners taking the win with a time of 1:27:14. Sharon Johnstone of Wilmslow RC came second, with Warrington’s Louise Blizzard finalising the podium.

The event concluded with the Wire FM Family Mile with over 1,200 people of all ages and abilities getting involved.

Race director Rob Griffiths said: “Ten years of the English Half Marathon in Warrington and based on the feedback so far, I must say that this one has been the best. The runners have crossed the spectacular Golden Gates and raved about our army of volunteers and the very loud and supportive Warrington residents who gave them that extra bit of energy to get them to the finish line. The team and I are looking forward to building on a great weekend, as we set our sights on another 10 years in Warrington.”

A team from warrington-worldwide entered the event for the first time, with nine members completing the 10k and one the half marathon, helping raise around £5,000 for the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.