THE organiser of the weekend's Oswestry 10k race says he got emotional at seeing so many people starting the popular event.
After a Covid-19 enforced absence in 2020, the event returned in 2021 with around 900 runners, including elite athletes, lining up at the Cae Glas War Memorial Gates.
The winner was Jim Hickinbottom, from Shrewsbury Athletics Club, with a time of 34 minutes and 20 seconds, while Ian Watkins was the highest placed recorded runner from Oswestry Olympians with 37:45.
Alan Lewis, from Adrenaline Sporting Events, admitted he was delighted to see so many runners there and that some have already started to look to 2022's event.
"It was a mega weekend – it was absolutely fabulous in every way," he said.
"The final list of competitors was around 900 and the winner was from Shrewsbury Athletics Club, so it was nice to someone win it who is fairly local.
"It was a great atmosphere at the start and a few people got emotional – including me – because they were so happy to have it back.
"The feedback on social media has been incredible and the drone footage at the start of the race was great.
"UK Athletics always send an official to events like these and they gave us full marks for the event.
"But the whole event was good for the town – people were coming into town and shops that aren't normally open on a Sunday might have done good trade.
"Also, people would have come on Saturday and stayed over, so it's good for the town again.
"We had about 50 entries for next year's race on Sunday. They must have been having their coffee and cake recovery, and signed up for it there and then.
"That's crazy."
Oswestry mayor Councillor Mark Jones officially started the race before joining with competitors to complete the course in a respectable 1:09:00.
He praised the event as 'cracking' and said it was another great weekend for the town.
The next race held in Oswestry by Adrenaline will the Shropshire Santa Run on Sunday, December 5.
For more, head to https://www.adrenalinesportingevents.co.uk/shropshire-santa-run-5k/
For the full results of the Oswestry 10k, head to https://results.sporthive.com/events/6851521552205439488
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here