MORE than 500 youngsters pounded the seafront on Saturday when Run Bournemouth returned.

Three junior running events drew large crowds at Bournemouth Pier on Saturday.

Runners aged three to six, accompanied by an adult, took part in the Kids’ Kilometre at 12.30pm.

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This was followed by the Junior 1.5k at 1.30pm for six to eight year olds and the Junior 2k at 2.30pm for nine to 12 year olds.

Tommy Ballingall took first place as the fastest male in the Junior 1.5K running the distance in six minutes, with Imogen Snaith as the fastest female with a time of six minutes and 39 seconds.

Harry Butcher came first in the Junior 2K with a time of six minutes and 50 seconds and Esmee Hurst Atkins was the fastest female running the distance in seven minutes and 23 seconds.

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Other races taking place over the weekend include the Half Marathon, Supersonic 10K, Supersonic 5K and the Supernova 5K.

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This year is the first Run Bournemouth event since 2019, after the pandemic put a halt to it last year.

More than 7,000 people signed up for the event, with the half marathon selling out for the first time ever.