About 600 people, ranging from youngsters barely in school to pensioners, headed to the start line for the three events – a one-mile under-14s race, the two-mile Paul Bithell Memorial Fun Run and the 15-mile Banbury Run.

While the runs all began amid glorious spring sunshine, it was not to last; anyone taking part in the 15-mile event got a good soaking for their efforts with rain and hail. But this failed to detract from a day of family fun and friendly competition.

Organiser Geoff Smith, of Banbury Harriers athletics club, said £700 had been raised for Katharine House Hospice through entry fees for the two-mile run and they would donate another £500 out of money taken from the 15-mile event. "It's been another fantastic event, a brilliant turnout," he added.

"A lot of people also get individual sponsorship so it should be a good total this year.

"There's a chap who's 72 and comes down from Birmingham every year taking part as well as kids dressed as bananas and just about everyone else in between; it's a lot of fun."


To watch a slideshow of pictures from the Banbury Run, click the 'play' link


The Paul Bithell Memorial Fun Run is held in memory of the late Banbury Guardian editor.
His widow Nikki Bithell took part, walking with Paul's sister Julie Gould.
"The sun always seems to shine for the fun run and there's just a fantastic spirit to it," she said.
"We had people of all sorts coming past us, from very small ones to old people. It's always a good chance for Paul to be remembered by us and others and I think everybody has a lot of fun."

The two-mile event was again won by Ben McCallum, 19, originally from Banbury but who now lives in London, in a time of 10mins 44secs.
Banbury Harrier Tom Biegel, 12, was second and Richard Cadle of Bicester AC third. Karlton Strat-ford, manager of Hook Norton Football Club, was frustrated in his efforts to secure a top-three finish.
He was down in fifth place behind 14-year-old fun run veteran Connie McMillan, who was fourth.
He said: "I was disappointed. I know it's a bit sad when I'm 42 and disappointed to be beaten by a 14-year-old but I wanted to finish in the top three.
"I ran it three or four years ago and Connie was there then too; she went off a bit quickly then but you could see she was going to be a good runner and she's got me beaten now. I'll be back next year though to try again. It's a good laugh but I wish more people would get involved in it."

Jane Ablett of Shotteswell has tackled the 15-mile course before but did the fun run this year with her son Tommy, seven.
She said: "I wanted my son to be able to do it with me so we did the two miles together with some friends.
"It's such fun and such a good course; you get a real sense of community spirit.
"The weather was lovely for our run but my sister was doing the 15-mile run and had to put up with all sorts. There was a hail storm in Claydon and she got soaked."

Four Banbury Guardian employees took part, with reporter Richard Woodall beating sub-editor Stuart Kidman in a sprint finish. Reporter Tom Gibbon and deputy editor Simon Will-iams finished well behind.
The 15-mile race was on by Nigel Marley of Alchester RC in 1:24:15.

For the full results of the 15-mile and two-mile events, see this week's Banbury Guardian