There was a half-hour delay to the start of the Harbour Wallbanger race on Sunday 14 July as the North Sea tide was reluctant to retreat for the runners in this annual seaside spectacular.

Once the coast was clear, and sufficient soggy sand was available, the race was underway. Harbour Wallbanger is run on a course bordered by the longest stretch of coastal chalk cliffs in the UK, only fully accessible at low tide.

Hazards include seaweed clumps, exposed chalk and flint rocks, rock pools, other beach users, and the unforgiving sand that is never quite as firm as it appears. One thing in the runners' favour this year was a rare appearance of the sun!

The race is only around 7K but still packs a punch – and we don't mean the compulsory 'bang' on the harbour wall at Ramsgate that gives this quirky event its title. Competitors start in Viking Bay, Broadstairs and choose their path – direct over the rocks, or longer on the sands – to Ramsgate Harbour for a tap on the wall and back to Broadstairs.

There were 258 finishers in 1:27:46, with everyone receiving a text with their time moments after crossing the line courtesy of the efficient chip timing provided by debut race partners Sporting Events UK, who were supporting host club Thanet Roadrunners AC (pictured above) for the first time.

The top three back to Broadstairs were 17-year-old Thanet Roadrunner Louis Eldred (26:38), Steven Daniels (unattached, 27:04) and M45 Ted Mockett (Ranelagh Harriers, 27:28) – the runner-up last year.

The women's champion was W40 Elly Maggs (Vegan Runners, 34:32) – up from third last year – followed by Asmaa Hatim (Thanet RR, 34:08) and W45 Anita Pollard (Deal Tri, 35:09).

The event was appreciated by participants, including M60 Jon Holl who was a tidy 100th male finisher in 44:17, posting on Facebook: "What a fantastic day. First time I’ve run the Harbour Wallbanger. I’m up for next year too now."

Previous race reports and results are at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Thanet Roadrunners on Facebook