THE Tenbury 10 kilometre race is set to thrive for the next decade, believe organisers who were delighted with the success of the event’s return last weekend.

The event returned on Sunday after an absence of six years – having last been run in 2012 – as a field of 200 runners braved a hilly course, starting at the Burgage.

Stuart Robinson, of Salford Harriers, triumphed in dead-on 34 minutes but organisers said the event as a whole was the real winner.

Oli Prouse – who jointly organised the 10k’s comeback with Claire Thomas – said: “We sold out of places with five weeks to go. It was so popular that we had a waiting list.

“Then when a few people had to withdraw with injury, we were able to fill those places and still have a waiting list.

“We were totally amazed and overwhelmed by the response we have had – and not just from the runners but spectators.

“The runners were really well supported through St Michaels. People had bunting and flags out and they were spraying the runners with hosepipes to cool them down.

“It was an amazing sight to see the runners leave the starting line.

“The main aim was to create an event to be proud of. We wanted to put Tenbury on the map for running and hopefully we are on the way to doing that.

“We had a brand new route – the old one used to go through Rochford, I believe, but we wanted this one to be all about Tenbury.

“We are delighted with it all, we couldn’t have asked for a better event.”

A date for next year’s event has already been set – Sunday, August 4, 2019 – and Oli believes it can once again become a fixture in the regional, and national, running calendar.

Oli – who runs with the Tenbury Runners group – added: “Everyone kept saying ‘make sure you do it again’ and we will be back again next year for sure.

“We have got that route for the next ten years. It has been approved by Run Britain for ten years.

“We will definitely increase the numbers next year due to the popularity of the event, but we don’t want to go too big.

“Maybe we can increase it by 50 runners to allow people who missed out this time to take part.

“There’s no point increasing it to 300, 400, 500 people if it stops you accommodating all the runners.”

It was a family affair for the winners as Stuart Robinson did not have to wait long to be reunited with wife Tessa, who was first woman home – and fifth overall – in 39.48mins.

Behind Stuart in second place in the men’s race was Andrew Salt in 36.47mins, followed by Darryl Carter in 37.13mins.

Second woman home was Vicky Morris of Bridgnorth Running Club in 44.49mins, just ahead of third-placed Gemma Mallett of Croft Ambrey AC in 45.01mins.

All proceeds raised from the event will go to the Love Tenbury fundraising appeal.