MORE than 200 people put on their running shoes to take part in the inaugural Christchurch 10K run on Sunday.

Runners set off from Stanpit at 10am to tackle the circuit, which travelled along the seafront and through Highcliffe Golf Course.

Claire Smith, race organiser, said: “We had 231 people take part, which is brilliant.

“There was a fantastic atmosphere and we had lots of supporters come out and cheer people on.

“This was the first Christchurch 10k but we will definitely be back next year,” she added.

Mrs Smith, who spent four months organising the run, said they were lucky with the weather and everyone was in good spirits on the day.

Keen runner Matthew Bewley, from Poole, finished in a respectable 19th place. The 22-year-old, who was raising funds for the charity Wessex Heart Beat alongside his colleagues from Goadsby, said: “It was a really good course and we had a nice day for it. I finished in 44 minutes and 58 seconds. I was pretty happy with that.”

Littledown resident Will Price said many races in the area have been cancelled in recent years and it was good to see a new 10k on the calendar.

“It was a brilliant course,” the 59-year-old said.

“There were lots of energetic supporters around the course. I would definitely do it again next year,” he added.

Harri Kane, of Vale of Aylesbury Athletic club, won the race with an impressive time of 38 minutes and six seconds.

He was closely followed by Steve Hall, representing Team Coco, who finished five seconds behind him and Michael Goodfrey, of Zoom Triathlon, came in third with a time of 38 minutes and 50 seconds.