AN OSWESTRY running race is due to return next month.

The Oswestry Olympians aim to hold their Marches School Oswestry 10k event on Sunday, February 27.

It will be the second time the race has taken place after it was reinstated in 2020.

Last year's event had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ray Pickett, from the Olympians, said: "We had started work on the second race when further Covid-19 restrictions meant we were unable to continue.

"Currently we are looking good for the 2022 event to take place on Sunday, February 27.

Once again we will have closed roads for which we are grateful for the support we have received from Shropshire Highways and the people of the town.

"There will be a children's fun run before the main event."

The 10k was reinstated to celebrate the Oswestry Olympians' 40th anniversary and was supported by Hayley Alldridge from the Marches School, who is also race director for the popular Whitchurch 10k road race that runs from the Sir John Thomas School and is part of the Marches Academy Trust group of schools.

The first race was started by the then Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor John Price, and saw 500 runners race around the historic town streets. The first man home was Sean Merryweather representing Wrexham Amateur Athletic Club in an impressive 33 minutes and 43 seconds, while the Olympians' Bethan Jones was the first woman across the line in 39:50.

Mr Pickett added: "While the majority of the entrants were local, we had runners from the north east of Scotland down to Cornwall and across to the south east with a good number from across Wales and the Midlands. For many it was their last race before the first lockdown came into force. We had a team of runners running on behalf of the appeal for the Veterans Orthopaedic Centre at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.

"We were well supported by the local community with around 100 volunteers marshalling the course, manning the start and finish area, providing water to the runners out on the course and as spectators cheering the runners on.

"We were also grateful to the local businesses, large and small, that provided sponsorship either financially or as products."

If you would like to take part in this year's race visit https://oswestryolympians.niftyentries.com/Oswestry-10K-2022 to sign up.