Tough route for Bridgnorth runners
One of the toughest 10k races in the region took place on Sunday, with runners having to tacking half a dozen hills on the route.
The fifth running of the Bridgnorth 10k was held in the town centre in glorious weather.
About 330 competitors started and finished outside the Town Hall in the centre of Bridgnorth, tackling a course which saw them wend their way down to Low Town then have to make the tough journey back up to the finish. They were all given medals with the war memorial engraved on it to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.
This year's winner was Matt Costello from Telford Athletics Club in a time of 34 minutes and 54 seconds. And the first female to cross the line, Kim Fauke from Lawley Runners set a new course record for women, 37 minutes and 37 seconds.
The event is organised every year by the Bridgnorth Running Club which says it would love to hold the race with closed roads in future.
Chairman and race director, Natalie Carr, said that between 70-80 volunteers from the club marshalled or otherwise helped out during the morning.
"We could not hold the event without the volunteers," she said.
"Last week some of our members went around the course ensuring it was safe, trimming back hedges and removing obstructions. Half of the race is on pavements as we have not yet had permission to close the roads and so we have to ensure they are free from overhanding hedges and are wide enough."
Natalie said one of the best loved competitors on the course was Kathy Ling, who still runs several events throughout the year despite being in her mid 70s.
"Knowing she could be last to finish she had asked that one of our regular 'sweepers' who runs at the back, Dave Prescott, wear the same Grim Reaper halloween costume he wore a couple of years ago. She said it would make her run faster."
Each year the club gives a donation from the event to charity.
"This year we are sharing it between two charities, the Royal British Legion to mark the centenary of the end of World War One and the League of Friends of Bridgnorth Hospital to mark 70 years of the NHS."
