Runners of all abilities came together take part in various events at the 2022 Bury Running Festival on Sunday.
Hundreds of people descended on the town centre to participate in one of three events – the Bury 10k, the Arena Group Bury Fun Run, and the inaugural Bury 10 Mile.
Organised by Run For All in partnership with the council, the event welcomed those with victory in their sights, as well as those just hoping to cross the finish line.
Many at the event were raising money for charity.
On a brisk Sunday morning, the runners first took part in a group warm up at the start line at The Rock, before being welcomed by borough mayor Shaheena Haroon.
The 10-mile route took the racers Tottington Road, Bury Road, Scobell Street, Church Street, Bradshaw Road, Harwood Road, Holcombe Road and Brandlesholme Road, before heading into Kirklees Valley Local Nature Reserve and along Kirklees Trail.
Runners then made their way back to the town centre for the big finish.
The 10k followed a similar path with a less expansive route of the town centre, while still allowing participants to take in the scenic views of Kirklees Valley.
The winners and their times in each event are as follows:
Bury 10 Mile
Male winner - Kevin Waterhouse, 57 minutes and 22 seconds.
Female winner - Jennifer Badger 1 hour, 7 minutes and 14 seconds.
Bury 10k
Male winner - Luke Edwards, 32 minutes and 58 seconds.
Female winner - Harriet Kirby, 44 minutes and 4 seconds.
Bury 10 Mile winner Kevin Waterhouse arrived hoping to finish in the top five. The 41-year-old said: “It’s a bit of a hilly course so I’m more than happy with my time.
“I’m normally a flat runner so it caught me off guard today (Sunday).
“It’s my first road race win so it’s really nice.”
First woman back, Jennifer Badger from Prestwich, said: “It was good, there was a lovely view at the top.
“I’ve only started running quite a lot this year and this is my first slightly longer distance.
“There was lots of cheers and the turnout was nice. Everyone came out to clap, which was nice.”
There were spectators gathered throughout the routs, particularly at the start/finish line.
Pamela Hitchin from Prestwich was there supporting her 75-year-old dad, Edward Hitchin, who was hoping for a 10-mile time of around an-hour-and-a-half.
She said: “Everybody loves it. It’s your local village, local place to run and when they put a run on for where you live then people go and support it.
“This is the first year I have run so I’m just watching which is hard to do.
“There are loads of clubs, people don’t realise. Running has taken off massively, so this is something huge for everybody now.”
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