Blue skies and bright winter sunshine provided ideal conditions for the 77 runners who took part in the annual Brent Knoll Race on Sunday morning (November 26th).
The athletes began the 5.5 mile course in Burnham-On-Sea and wended their way across the fields to the top of the knoll and back.
Having been held for more than 20 years, the race is a popular fixture for runners from across the region.
It was won on Sunday for the second year by 25-year-old Bristol athlete Vita Graffagnino, pictured, of Clevedon Athletics Club. After crossing the finish line in a fast time of 38 minutes and 7 seconds, he told Burnham-On-Sea.com he’d found it “a tough race this year given the muddy conditions under foot.”
Organiser Brian Beale of Burnham Harriers said the event had been another great success, with a last-minute flurry of dozens of entrants coming forward on the morning of the race.
The event was originally started as a small race attached to Brent Knoll’s summer fete.
Later, Burnham Harriers took over it and moved it to the winter to make it more competitive. The event starts at Burnham’s BASC ground in Stoddens Road and goes cross-country to the summit of Brent Knoll and back.
Over the years, the course has changed slightly after various alterations to footpaths along the route, but the course remains popular with runners.
Brian Beale of Burnham Harriers fires a starting pistol to get the race underway
Runners pace across the fields towards Brent Knoll during Sunday morning’s race
David Carter (168) catches up with Nicola Kelly (161) and Nigel Redman (175) during the event
Louise James (135) headed a group of ladies runners near the start of the race
The winner, Vita Graffagnino, dashes around a muddy corner near the top of Brent Knoll during Sunday’s annual race
RELATED LINKS:
2005 Brent Knoll Run
