The Sun shines on 2,000 runners at annual Port Sunlight Race 2019.

SUN SHINES ON 2,000

RUNNERS AT ANNUAL

PORT SUNLIGHT RACE DAY

Event featured 5K, 10K, 1K Fun Run

5K winner sets new male course record.

The eighth annual Port Sunlight Road Race took place on Sunday (16 June), when more than 2,000 runners took part in three runs and a new male 5K course record was set.

The event was organised and delivered by independent race organisers Hoylake-based BTR Liverpool, in conjunction with Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT).

Headline sponsor Unilever supported the event for the sixth consecutive year.

The event in Port Sunlight Village has become a firm fixture in the North West race calendar, with runners keen to take in the sights of the picturesque setting while clocking up the miles.

The 5K took runners along the tree-lined boulevards and perfectly manicured gardens of the historic village. The 10K followed two laps of the 5K route.

The races were then followed by a 1K Fun Run for children aged 12 and under, with almost 300 youngsters joining in the fun.

The winner of the 5K was Joseph Boden from Wallasey AC with a time of 15 minutes 28 seconds, setting a new 5K course record by 43 seconds. The previous record of 16 minutes 11 seconds was held by Aaron Jarvis from Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers, set in 2016.

It was an extremely close finish for second and third places, taken by Andrew Bromley and Ben Lewington, both in a time of 16 minutes 38 seconds.

First place female in the 5K was Helen Sahgal from Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers with a time of 19 minutes 9 seconds – taking first place for the third consecutive year. Helen also set a new female 5K course record last year of 18 minutes 13 seconds which still stands.

Second place female was Helen Stansfield in 20 minutes 3 seconds, followed by third place Rachel Bailey from Bolton United Harriers AC in 20 minutes 6 seconds.

The top three female finishers in the 5K – Helen Sahgal, Helen Stansfield, and Rachel Bailey – all finished in the exact same positions as year’s 5K race.

It was also a very close race in the 10K. Jay Walker from Wallasey AC won the race in 33 minutes 47 seconds – beating his third place from last year and shaving 1 minute 24 seconds off his 2018 time.

Second place was Jamie Rutherford from Liverpool Running Club in 33 minutes 50 seconds; with third place taken by Rob Pearse by Wallasey AC in 34 minutes 7 seconds.

The male 10K record stands at 30 minutes 19 seconds, set in 2016 by Dejene Gezimu from Liverpool Harriers.

First female to finish in the 10K was Eleanor Jones from Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers in 36 minutes 54 seconds. Second place was taken by Emily Carr in 38 minutes 4 seconds, followed by third place Carmel Edwards in 39 minutes 19 seconds.

The female 10K record stands at 36 minutes 42 seconds, set by Sophie Whiteside from Liverpool Harriers in 2016.

The field of runners included 250 runners who took on the dual race challenge, taking part in the 5K race quickly followed by the 10K. As well as collecting both race distance medals and T-shirts, they received a special dual challenge medal to mark their 15K achievement.

A group of 60 runners from Neston High School ran in memory of seven-month-old Emma Mannix. The group of staff and pupils included Emma’s mum Fiona Robinson. The group were fundraising for the Emma Mannix Tribute Fund at Bloodwise (previously Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research UK).

Last year, Port Sunlight celebrated the 130^th anniversary of the founding of the historic village by William Lever in 1888 for the employees of his Lever Brothers soap works. Today it is considered the finest example of an industrial worker village in the UK.

Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) is an independent charity created in 1999 to be the guardian of Port Sunlight, and celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year.

The charity works with the community to protect the heritage, ensure a great quality of life for residents, and celebrates William Lever’s amazing legacy. PSVT invests over £3million each year in maintaining and conserving the estate and in lifelong learning programmes for all.

Earlier this month, PSVT launched its first five-year strategic plan for 2019-2024, which outlines a dynamic new vision for the trust and the village, including plans for a successful and sustainable future.

Port Sunlight Museum, operated by PSVT, retained the Small Visitor Attraction Of The Year title at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2019, scooping the award for the second consecutive year.

Runners who took part in the 5K or 10K races can enjoy free entry into Port Sunlight Museum until 31 August 2019, upon production of their race number.

Paul Harris, Chief Executive of Port Sunlight Village Trust, commented:

“Port Sunlight Village is a very special, unique destination, and we were absolutely delighted to welcome runners and spectators for an eighth consecutive year. The Port Sunlight Road Race is a great event to showcase the village, and the feedback we receive from the runners is always fantastic. Well done to everyone who took part – and we hope to see you again next year.”

A group of 130 runners from Unilever took part across both races, including runners from its Couch To 5K scheme.

Founder William Lever built his factory and village in 1888, and the company continues to have world class manufacturing, R&D and IT facilities based in Port Sunlight, along with a third of its UK workforce. Unilever’s brands include household names Persil, Dove, Tresemme, Radox, Comfort and Surf.

Cameron Jones, Head of Unilever Port Sunlight, added:

“What another fantastic event, perfect weather and a brilliant turn-out – it gets better each year. Unilever is delighted to work with Port Sunlight Village Trust and BTR Liverpool to make the Port Sunlight Road Race a huge success, while encouraging health and well-being. Congratulations to our very own 130 Unilever runners, which included the Couch To 5K team.”

Hoylake-based race organisers BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region. The BTR event portfolio also includes the BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K and BTR Liverpool Santa Dash.

The next BTR events are the 52-mile Tour Of Merseyside (30 June-6 July); 26-mile BTR Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral (6-8 September); and BTR Wirral Half Marathon/10K (8 September).

For full details visit the BTR website at www.btrliverpool.com

Website www.btrliverpool.com

Facebook Facebook/BTR Liverpool

Twitter @BTRLiverpool

Images by Paul Francis Cooper/BTR Liverpool

BTR PORT SUNLIGHT 5K 2019

First 3 Male Finishers (gun times)

Joseph Boden Wallasey AC 15:28

Andrew Bromley N/A 16:38

Ben Lewington N/A 16:38

First 3 Female Finishers (gun times)

Helen Sahgal Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers 19:09

Helen Stansfield N/A 20:03

Rachel Bailey Bolton United Harriers AC 20:06

BTR PORT SUNLIGHT 10K 2019

First 3 Male Finishers (gun times)

Jay Walker Wallasey AC 33:47

Jamie Rutherford Liverpool Running Club 33:50

Rob Pearse Wallasey AC 34:07

First 3 Female Finishers (gun times)

Eleanor Jones Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers 36:54

Emily Carr N/A 38:04

Carmel Triggs N/A 39:19

About BTR Liverpool:

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events in Liverpool City Region. The team stage a number of headline events annually, which continue to develop and grow year on year.

Established in 2006, BTR Liverpool prides itself on the quality and delivery of its events; its strong links with the running community; and engagement with local charities.

Its event portfolio includes the Liverpool Half Marathon, Mersey Tunnel 10K; Wirral Half Marathon and 10K; Port Sunlight 10K and 5K; 52-mile Tour Of Merseyside; Liverpool Santa Dash.

BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell has been part of the running community since he began racing as a teenager, which developed into race organising over 20 years ago. Alan’s own personal achievements include finishing 42 Marathons in a 25-year period – including running the London Marathon 22 times; the New York Marathon six times; as well as the Liverpool and Stockholm Marathons.

BTR Running Events 2019: