Runners turn out in force
for Port Sunlight race day
Photographs in this report are by:-
Paul Francis
Cooper.
ALMOST 1,800 runners took to the
streets of Port Sunlight, on Sunday, 1 March 2015, for its 4th annual race day.
The family event attracted runners of all ages and abilities across 2 races in
the picturesque village; 5K and 10K; which was then followed by a 1K Kids' Fun
Run.
The event was organised by BTR, in conjunction with Port Sunlight Village Trust.
The Port Sunlight races officially kick started BTR's growing portfolio of 10
events for 2015. Almost 400 runners took part in the 5K race, which was a loop
route taking in the sights of the village. This was followed by the 10K race,
which saw 1,200 runners race for two loops of the same course. All finishers in
the 5K and 10K races received a bespoke finishers' medal, T-shirt and goody bag.
The races were followed by a 1K Kids' Fun Run
attracting 200 enthusiastic youngsters who were greeted by Claire Bear, the
official mascot of Claire House Children's Hospice. They all received a medal
and a goody bag.
Deciding that one race in a day wasn't enough, almost 40 keen runners took part
in both the 5K and 10K races to be double racers on the day.
The day's most senior runner was familiar
face, 91 year old Eddie Mountford, from Wirral, who completed the 10K.
Unilever supported the event for the second consecutive year through Project
Sunlight; its movement for people everywhere who want to make the world a better
place for their children and future generations.
Unilever has enjoyed a strong connection to Port Sunlight since 1888 and
continues to have major manufacturing, R&D and IT facilities in the village.
Unilever had 50 runners taking part across the 5K and 10K races.
The event has previously been staged in May, but due to a large number of major
events taking place across the Liverpool City Region (Merseyside) in May,
organisers brought the event forward by 2 months.
BTR Liverpool is the leading independent
organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events in
Liverpool City Region. Its portfolio of 9 other race events includes the
Liverpool Santa Dash, Liverpool and Wirral Half Marathons, and Mersey Tunnel
10K.
BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell said:- "Port Sunlight is a fantastic
setting for race events and, once again, we have to thank Port Sunlight Village
Trust for hosting the event and Unilever for their support. We had an excellent
turn-out, which kick started our calendar of 10 events for 2015. We're delighted
with the numbers taking into account the change of date. It's a fantastic sight
to see new runners alongside the more experienced ones, while the youngsters
brought the fun element to the day. A massive well done to all the runners, and
not forgetting the volunteers who play such an important role on the day."
Katherine Lynch, Heritage Manager at Port Sunlight Village Trust, commented:-
"We were thrilled to welcome the 1,800 runners, their families and supporters to
Port Sunlight. The village is an ideal backdrop to host events such as this, and
we always look forward to the annual race day. The event went extremely well and
we are very grateful to the residents of Port Sunlight for their ongoing support
of our public programmes."
Unilever Port Sunlight Works Director, Andy Hinch, added:- "We were
thrilled to support the event for the 2nd consecutive year and it was a great
sight to see the runners enjoying the village. Port Sunlight is the historic
home of Unilever and we are proud to be involved. Well done to our 50 Unilever
runners who took part."
The BTR Port Sunlight 10K and 5K races were
the latest events in a year long joint fundraising partnership between BTR
Liverpool and its 5 official charities.
The BTR Footsteps Fundraisers initiative will bring the charities together to
benefit financially through BTR's key race events over the next 12 months by
encouraging participants to fundraise and support them.
The 5 BTR Footsteps Fundraisers official charities are:- Radio City's Cash For
Kids, Claire House Children's Hospice, Everton in the Community, Jospice, and
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. More details can be found at:-
EveryDayHero.Co.UK/Event/SupportBTRFootsteps.
The next race for BTR is the Vitality Liverpool Half Marathon, on 29 March 2015.
You can find out more about this race and the many others on offer at:-
BTRLiverpool.com.
