The Bewl 15 has been muddying shoes and putting smiles on faces for 24 years. The latest promotion by the local club Wadhurst Runners, with race management partners Nice Work, took place on Sunday 7 July around the 31,000 million litre Bewl Water reservoir on the border of Sussex and Kent at Lamberhurst.

The race has been a key element of the Sussex Grand Prix (SGP) since its inception. The SGP is a series of 12 races between March and November at various venues in Sussex. Founded in 1985 by Ron Grover and Carol Wilson of Arena 80, it is contested by 19 England Athletics registered running clubs throughout Sussex.

With the addition of the 'Baby Bewl' 5-miler since last year, there were 539 finishers on Sunday – 430 of them preferring the full 15-mile circuit within the 800 acres of parkland that comprises Bewl Water.

First back on the climb up from the reservoir to the finish line at Blacksmith's Lane, Wadhurst was Dylan Wymer (Dulwich Runners, 1:37:17) followed by Alexander Janiaud (Belgrave Harriers, 1:39:56) and Graham McIntosh (Wadhurst Runners, 1:40:25).

W40 Amy Dixon (Hy Runners, 1:50:40) was four minutes clear of Hailsham Harriers' Aislin Darvell (1:54:29) and Alice Denning (1:54:29) in the women's race. More than 50 finished in two hours and the tail runner – Holly Taylor – swept up in 4:21:55.

The top three in the Bewl 5 were Will Withecombe (Hastings Runners (34:32) and M45 masters John Rawling (Crawley AC, 35:05) and Tony Bennett (Tonbridge AC, 35:40). Leading ladies were W35 Claire Thomas (Hastings Runners, 39:23) and unattached runners Georgina Grimble (41:48) and Lauren Dickson-Lowe (43:48).

This year's Bewl 15 and Bewl 5 supported the fantastic work of the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS). Their helicopters are flying emergency rooms and can reach any part of Kent, Surrey, or Sussex in under 30 minutes. Their crews of pilots, doctors, and paramedics responded to over 3,200 incidents last year. But, this world-leading, life-saving care costs £16.6M a year, or over £45K per day, to operate with 87% of their total income raised through the incredible generosity of supporters.

Results and previous reports are at the runABC South race listing here.

Library photos courtesy Nice Work