Hundreds of young athletes turned down a quiet Sunday lie-in to lineup for Hartley Wintney’s sixth annual fun run.
Youngsters aged from two to 17 years old took part in five different runs at Greenfields Junior School, Green Lane.
Up to 230 children turned up for the event which hosted 2.4km, 1,600m, 1,200m, 800m, and 400m runs.
The day was fundraising cash for the community, with proceeds being donated to the Hartley Wintney Girl Guides, and the Bramshill Scout Groups.
Organiser Lucy Etherington-Smith, who founded the event in 2006 with pal Gail Bethell, said: “The children have been looking forward to the run for months. This year we have offered five free training sessions. These were very well attended.
“The fun rum aims to raise funds for local groups while promoting lifelong well-being for children by introducing them to the fun of running at an early age.”
The flagship 2.4km race was won by 15-year-old Harry Lewington, who pipped his younger brother James, 13, to the top spot by one second, coming home in a time of 9m13s.
Despite still wearing pyjamas underneath his fancy dress tiger costume, the Robert May’s pupil said: “It was a bit harder in the costume as it was hot, but I pushed myself and had enough stamina to get to the end.”
The two brothers pushed the two 118 118 clad pace runners, Andy Shaw, 42, and Dom Wake, 40, to exhaustion. Dom said: “They were doing six minute miles, they were extremely quick.”
The first girl across the line was 11-year-old Lucy Pygott, who bagged fourth place with a time of 9m33s.
Ms Bethell said both her and Ms Etherington-Smith are standing down from organising next years run, but added she will still support the event: “It’s the excitement both before the event and on the day,” she said. “The children are so dedicated to their training and can’t wait to get running. We certainly are a fit and healthy village.”
