Newbury 10K - Picture special as record numbers of runners raise £20k for Newbury AC, Newbury Soup Kitchen and Loose Ends Newbury

This is a long read, picture special, so keep scrolling right to the bottom to see if our photographer snapped you at the event.

The sun shone on a record-breaking day at the 2024 Newbury 10k.

The Newbury Athletic Club event saw a new route, record entries that sold out more than a month before race day, and a staggering £20,000 raised for two local charities.

Runners aged from five right up to 77 took part in the 14th staging of the annual event, with shorter races of 0.9k and 1.5k for the younger participants.

In the men’s event Matt Green from Newbury AC crossed the line first in a time of 34:15, with Matthew Quartermain in second and Team Kennet’s Simon Whatson in third in a time of 35:40.

Newbury AC triumphed in the women’s event too with Josie Robertson retaining her title in a time of 38:02.

Fellow club member Victoria Duncan finished second, in 38.10, while Gemma Jones was third.

Starting and finishing in Newbury’s Market Place, the multi-terrain race took runners through the town – where the streets were lined with cheering spectators – through the West Berkshire countryside and back along the Kennet and Avon canal, with just a few diversions for flooded routes.

Race director and Newbury Athletic Club member, Jeff Bird said he was thrilled with how demand has grown over the years.

“We were anticipating a strong turn out as the event has been growing in popularity, but we did not expect for places to sell out so far in advance,” he added. “We have been amazed by the uptake and how keen people have been to be involved, either through running, fundraising or volunteering.

“We are very grateful to everyone involved in making it possible, in particular our wonderful volunteers, our sponsors and Newbury Athletic Club members.”

Mr Bird said a highlight this year had been the number of team entries.

They included a team of teachers from St Bartholomew’s School, Curridge Primary School PTA and staff from local businesses such as Gekko, Stryker and Garner Leader.

So far nearly £1,500 has been raised from voluntary donations from runners and team entries alone.

Fundraising from the event will be donated to Newbury AC, Newbury Soup Kitchen and Loose Ends Newbury.

The total raised was 25 per cent higher than in previous years, with more than £20,000 raised in total.

Diana Lacey, from Loose Ends, said: “We are immensely grateful for the generous support of the running community, who today have helped raise a huge amount of money for our charity.

“This will make the most incredible difference to our work and we would like to thank everyone who has run today or sponsored runners to help raise money for us.”

The organisers thanked local firms Stryker, Howden Insurance, Gardner Leader and Castle Windows, who provided generous support and financial contributions.

At the finish line, the sponsors joined representatives from the supported charities and Newbury mayor, Andy Moore, to present the race winners with their prizes.

Runners from more than 60 different clubs took part in Monday’s event, with some coming from as far afield as Dundee, Gillingham, Dagenham and Falmouth.

Scroll to the bottom for the results of the junior races.

In the junior 0.9k races Sophia Mahoney finished first in the girls 5-8 years, with Grace Bennis second and Gracie Williams third.

In the girls 9-11 years, the race was won by Penelope Lyth, with Affra Bailey in second and Daisy Dunn third.

The boys 5-8 years race was won by Chester Bailey, with Ted Gerrard second and Rufus Bush third.

In the boys 9-11 years event, Noah Loupekine was first, Arlen Perfrement was second and Josh Bailey was third.

In the 1.5k races, Orlagh Stratford finished first in the girls 10-13 years, with Alice Stratford in second and Abigail Marshall in third.

In the girls 14-15 years, Charlotte Bailey was first, Sofia Hughes was second and Georgia Knight third.

In the boys 10-13 years first to cross the line was Lorenzo Moss, with Alex Rowe second and Rupert Knight third.

In the boys 14-15 years, Haydn James was first, James Higgs was second and Zack Roots was third.