Nearly 1,000 runners braved the windy conditions this morning to take part in the Winchester 10k.

The event was back in its regular time of year, after it was moved forward to October last year due to the Covid restrictions.

Despite the grey and windy conditions, the runners started the course on The Broadway and finished by the old River Park Leisure Centre.

There was a mixture of serious competitors and people enjoying running, perhaps for the first time in an event like this.

The event was also raising money for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

The fastest male runner, George King, finished around 30 seconds ahead of everyone else.

Hampshire Chronicle: Winchester 10K 2022. Winner George King from Winchester and district athletics club. Photos Stuart Martin

George, from Winchester and District Athletics Club (WADAC), said: “My time was 32:54 which is what I expected in these conditions. Not my fastest time. It was a hilly course and windy as well. I have done this race a couple of years ago, it's nice to run in a home race.”

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Guy Brayn, also from WADAC, came second. He said: “It was good, I've just returned from injury, so I'm quite happy with how I did. It's so nice to run on your doorstep.”

The fastest female athlete was Louise Hooker from Southsea. She said: “The windy conditions played to my skill-set because at Southsea, I run along the seafront which is super windy. Just not used to the hills because Southsea is very flat. I did this race a few years ago when I came fifth, so I wanted to come back and improve that.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Winchester 10K 2022. First woman Louise Hooker from Portsmouth. Photos Stuart Martin

Event organiser Kelly Wickens said: “I am delighted with how it has gone today, as of 2pm yesterday, we weren't sure this event would actually happen because of the big tree down on Worthy Road. Thanks to chatting to some locals, we were able to re-route the course.

“It was a huge a achievement to get to the start-line, let alone the finish-line. We had about 1,500 people enter, but I think just under 1,000 people came out today.

“We think we've raised a round £4,000 from our previous events from last year and we have about 15 more events this year to get to our £15,000 target.”

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