The superb action shot above, taken by Joe Norman for Ryde Harriers, shows the eventual winner Chris Newnham forging an early lead in the Brading 10K on Sunday, 1 June 2025. 

The Brading 10K kicks off the Isle of Wight Festival of Running, which takes place from 1-8 June 2025 and includes various races across the beautiful island in the English Channel.

The Isle of Wight is a ceremonial county in its own right, with a land area of 150 square miles. It is the largest and most populous English island, historically known as Vectis. It's wonderful coastline, clifftop paths, and hilly lanes make grand venues for running events previously enjoyed by your correspondent.

Brading 10K is relatively flat for an Isle of Wight race. The new course, revised in 2023, has a total climb of 73 metres and is situated between Ryde and Brading in the east of the island.

Chris Newnham, resplendent in the red of host club Ryde Harriers and sporting a fluo yellow forehead sweatband (necessary on such a warm day), lost no time in asserting his dominance as he left the dusty Smallbrook Speedway Stadium to head towards Brading via Ashey Road.

The defending champion's margin was almost three minutes as he returned to Smallbrook Stadium in 31:47. The runners-up were Joshua Price (Vectis Academy Race Team, 34:38) and M40 Gary Marshall (Ryde Harriers, 35:05).

Bethany Howarth (Ryde Harriers, 39:30) was an equally impressive winner of the women's race on her 10K debut. W35 Claire Grace (Ryde Harriers, 44:35 PB) and W40 Natasha Colebrook (unattached, 45:48 PB) completed the women's podium.

It was no surprise to see Ryde Harriers at the top of both men's and women's team results. There were 110 finishers in 1:14:22, and 45 went inside 50 minutes.

Full results are at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo credit: Joe Norman for Ryde Harriers on Facebook