THE crowning event of the Run Bournemouth festival saw bumper crowds turn out to cheer on runners on Sunday morning.

The Bournemouth Half Marathon attracted thousands of runners with even the weather playing its part to add to the spirit of the day.

Dom Willmore from Poole Athletic Club took first place as the fastest male to run the half marathon, achieving a new course record in a time of one hour, seven minutes and 30 seconds.

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Sophie Delderfield from Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club was the fastest female to run the half marathon in a time of one hour, 21 minutes and 38 seconds.

The Mayor of Bournemouth, councillor David Kelsey attended the Sunday morning races to congratulate the winners.

Runner Ash Scott said: “The run went quite well, it was perfect weather for it today. It was a fast start and then there was a steep hill on mile eight and my legs started hurting but the support on the route was cracking, so it was really good.”

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The weather was on the side of the runners this weekend, Sunday’s 10K and half marathon runs began at Hengistbury Head and finished in the Bournemouth Lower Gardens with the weather remained sunny throughout.

Runner Ella Luffman said: “Well I just got a personal best so that was amazing, it was lovely and flat until eight miles and then boy did the hill absolutely demolish my legs but it was an amazing run lovely and flat.

“5K to go was extremely hard but you had everyone cheering you on and that got me through.

“My parents jetted off to Lanzarote yesterday, they were supposed to be doing it with me, so I had to go it alone and then I got a big personal best so I’m over the moon.”

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

The chosen charities were Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK.

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