Vale runners turn out in force for race organised by the Blackmore Vale Lions Club.

MORE than 150 runners took to the course for the 30th Blackmore Vale Half Marathon recently.
The wind was chilly but runners kept their spirits up as they tackled the trek, setting off from Bishop’s Caundle on the 13.1-mile route.

“North Dorset and the Blackmore Vale has never looked better, Thomas Hardy would have been proud, as 167 runners set off to tackle the 13.1 miles of undulating Vale roads and countryside,” a spokesperson for the event said.
Organisers, the Blackmore Vale Lions Club, said numbers were down on previous years, attributed largely to Covid and other illnesses.
“But thanks to generous sponsors the money raised will be roughly the same as in recent years and both the organisers and the runners are grateful to them for all the contributions, big or small, they have made,” they added.
“The money is still being counted so the most important result, exactly how much money the Blackmore Vale Lions and the runners, sponsors and organising team and the supporters raised for charity, won’t be known for a while but will be published when the calculators stop.
“Despite the brilliant weather neither the male nor female records were broken but the speed of the runners around the course pays tribute to their huge dedication and the hard work in preparing for the event.”
The men’s race was won by Michael Sandiford, of Fordy Runs Running Club, in a time of 1hr 13mins 19seconds, followed in second by Chris Wood of Twemlow Track Club, with Anthony Clarke in third.

In the women’s race, Gill Pearson of Running For Time came in first, in 1hr 23mins 59seconds, followed by Victoria Walls, with Helen Anthony of Teignbridge Trotters in third place.