More than 1,100 people take part in a bumper Sawston Fun Run
The Sawston Fun Run exceeded expectations last Sunday when it attracted the third highest number of entrants in its 34-year history.
In total 1,106 took part in the two charity fun runs that started and finished at Sawston Village College.
The organisers of the annual charity fund-raiser, the Rotary Club of Cambridge Sawston, believe the turnout augers well for its minimum target of £15,000 being generated, a figure that would take the cumulative amount raised to over £470,000 since it began.
The chairman of the Rotary Club's organising committee Ian Chamberlain said: "Many people made the event a big success by supporting us as marshals or by manning water stations.
"We thank them, staff of The Cambridge Building Society and other sponsors and businesses and those in Sawston who contributed in some way.
"It was just so good to see everyone enjoying themselves."
The Rotary Club, added Mr Chamberlain, is indebted to the event sponsor The Cambridge Building Society, Jonathan Russell, principal of Sawston Village College and sponsors Adams Harrison, Adcock Engineering, Cooperative Funeral Service, Gibbs Denley F & I Advisers, McDonalds, Morgan Sindall, the Central England Co-op and Sawston Parish Council, without whom 'the event could not be held.'
Elite runners from clubs in surrounding counties, social runners and families came together to complete either the 7.4k run or the shorter 4K route for walkers and the race for school years 1-6.
Tomatoes seems to be the theme in this team's attire at the Sawston Fun Run. Picture by John Hunting
The fine weather was ideal for the runners and it brought out large crowds who lined the streets, who with the Sawston Youth Group Band and the local samba band in the High Street, gave encouragement to walkers and runners alike.
The overall winner was John Baslington of Sawston in a time of 25 minutes and the winning lady was Kristy Guneratne of Shelford.
Sue Woods of Sawston won the over 55-years ladies race for the fifth consecutive year.
The first Sawston Village College girl was Sophie Brock in the school years 7- 11 category and the first Sawston Village College Boy was Mathew Smith.
John was especially pleased as he's entered the event over many years, from being a student at Sawston Village College and came back from his army base to enter.
Tomatoes seems to be the theme in this team's attire at the Sawston Fun Run. Picture by John Hunting
The most successful family, for the second year, were the Courtois family of Great Abington who had Simon coming first in school years 1-6, mum Sophie coming second in the 40-54 aged section and father Vincent coming third in the 40-54 category.
The biggest winners will be the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre of Shelford and the other beneficiaries: Footprints café, Icknield Primary School; Sawston Youth Drama, Sawston Youth Group; Granta School, Linton; Pippins Pre-school; Sawston Cinema Club; Sawston Guides; Sawston Sports Centre; Whittlesford United Reformed Church Pilates; Whitsers pre-school and the Ladybird Playgroup, Thriplow and seven local primary schools.
Many in the community contributed by providing stalls at the venue or their time as volunteers, such as local aerobics trainer, Marlene Sharpe-Westwood who got the runners warmed up, whilst over 30 members of The Cambridge Building Society undertook numerous supporting roles.
The Sawston Youth Group Band attracted crowds in the High Street whilst the scouts, the air and army cadets, the cricket club, members of other Rotary clubs and students from Sawston Village College all helped in different ways.
