Festive fun, fancy dress and Fork Handles for Newport runners as club's Christmas treasure hunt event returns

Members of Newport & District Running Club took part in the club’s annual Christmas Treasure Hunt, a social event that takes place every December. Runners follow a trail of clues through and around the town, with refreshment stops en route and food awaiting them at the finish.

This year, the run started and finished on Wednesday (December 11) at Newport Bowling Club, where 9 teams set off at 6.30pm in varying states of fancy dress. The first clue took teams to Dragon Soul, from where they were sent to The Swan for their first drink.

From there, they made their way to the Railway Tavern, via St. Nicholas’ Church, and then onwards to The Wheatsheaf, via the 'Sheep Island' roundabout. Their last clue came outside Moorfield School, from where they all made their way back to the bowling club, where boxes of pizza were waiting for them.

There were prizes on the night for categories such as the best dressed individual (John Metzger as David Beckham), best dressed team (won by the Fork Handles team), best team name (Non Wise Men), and best dressed marshal (Andy Wilmot as an elf). 

Prizes were also given out for the 'Grand Prix', a competition that ran from October 2023 to September 2024, which awarded points to club members for participating in local races. Alex Millington won the men’s Grand Prix, with Alex Cochrane second and David Evans third. Annabel Bolton was first in the women’s competition, followed by Kay Wilkinson-Smith in second, and Louise Patterson third.