Nearly 400 runners took to the streets of Borehamwood and the surrounding area on Sunday, for the annual Borehamwood Half Marathon and Fun Run.

A total of 292 people ran the 13.1 mile half marathon, starting at Borehamwood's Hertswood Centre, and continuing along Shenley Road to Well End and Shenley, and then on to Radlett, before returning to the centre via Theobald Street, Gateshead Road, Brook Road and Hartforde Road.

The half marathon, with a minimum entry age of 17, attracted runners up to the age of around 70, who ran along the side of the road.

The winner was John Downes, from an athletic club in London, whose time was just over one hour and 13 minutes, followed by Tim Shaw in second place and James Walker in third.

Pauline Poole, chairman and secretary of Boreham Wood Athletic Club, which organises the half marathon and fun run, said: "It was a great success, everybody enjoyed it they all said they were coming back next year."

A total 149 people, of all ages from seven upwards, completed the fun run on the same day. The fun run also started at the centre and covered three miles, via Well End and Potters Lane in Borehamwood. Sam Hatton, of Suffolk Youth FC, won the fun run, followed by Gerry Hanna and Tom Bray.

Both events were sponsored by Borehamwood-based Pinnacle Insurance plc.

The following are the finishing times of the top competitors in the Borehamwood Half Marathon and Fun Run, which took place on Saturday.

Half marathon: Men: 1st John Downes, London Irish, 1 hr 13 min 22 sec; 2nd Tim Shaw, Shaftesbury, 1 hr 14 min 53 sec; James Walker, 1 hr 16 min 42 sec.

Vets: 1st Peter McHugh De Clare, VPH &TH, 1 hr 17 min 23 sec.

Vet 40: 1st Brian Matthews, RRC, 1 hr 23 min 50 sec.

Vet 50: 1st Tom Cullen, 1 hr 25 minutes 41 seconds.

Vet 60: 1st Philip Turley, Epsom and Ewell Harriers, 1 hr 33 min 42 sec.

Vet 70: 1st Donald Corney, Garden City Joggers, 1 hr 33 min 42 sec.

Local Vet: 1st Robert Blackman, Boreham Wood AC, 1 hr 40 min 53 sec.

1st team: Serpentine

Ladies: 1st: Mia Perry, Serpentine, 1 hr 29 min 6 sec.

2nd: Isabel Partridge, 1 hr 29 min 17 sec.

3rd: Zoe Gallagher, Serpentine, 1 hr 33 min 17 sec.

Vets: 1st Hilary Keogh, 1 hr 35 min 3 sec.

Local Vet 35: 1st Beverley Hall, 1 hr 46 min 5 sec.

Local Vet 45: 1st Lisa Horan, 1 hr 46 min 21 sec.

Local Vet: 1st Linda Cannon, Boreham Wood AC, 1 hr 46 min 53 sec.

Team: Serpentine

Fun run: 1st: Sam Hatton, Suffolk Youth FC, 17 min 48 secs.

2nd: Gerry Hanna, 17 min 49 sec.

3rd Tom Bray, Reading Road Runners, 18 min 4 sec.

1st Lady: Neelam Kaderbhoy, Shaftesbury Barnet, 18 min 20 sec.

Boys Team: Suffolk Youth FC: Sam Hatton, Mat Tillbrook, Matthew Hudson, Niall Hardiman.

Girls Team: St Cuthbert Mayne School: Aoife Kelly, Anna Hampton, Ruth Ann Curran, Sophie Rochford.

June 26, 2002 15:00