The ancient cathedral city of Winchester is situated at the western edge of the South Downs National Park, on the River Itchen – well known to competitors in the Southampton Marathon. The dramatic and historic city centre is the backdrop to a challenging 10K road race organised by Challenging Events, and the latest event was on Sunday 18 February with 1,000 runners.

The Winchester 10K started in 1983 as one of many 10-mile road races around at the time and adopted the increasingly popular 10K distance in the late 1980s. The race enjoys a single-lap, closed-road route starting outside Winchester Guildhall in The Broadway, right in front of the impressive King Alfred Statue.

The course heads up St George's Street and out towards the village of Kingsworthy. The return leg passes through the village of Headbourne Worthy towards Winchester for the grand finish at The North Walls Recreation Centre. The lap is an interesting mix of both urban roads and countryside parkland. The official race video gives a good impression of the event and the course.....

This year's winner was George King (Winchester & District AC, 32:45) – not the first King to have graced this beautiful part of England! This King was followed by Jacob Ainslie (Hedge End RC, 34:08), Leo Maliphant (Aldershot, Farnham & District, 34:10) and a total of 983 loyal subjects in 1:33:50.

Katie O'Hare (Pontypridd Roadents AC, 41:43) was first in the women's race and was soon joined at the finish by Jessica Carter (Didcot Runners, 42:12) and Gwen Kinsey (Scimitar Race Team, 42:47).

Among the 650 runners who beat the hour was a happy Jeremy Peters (M65, Lonely Goat RC) who is pictured above looking far from lonely on his way to a 59:43 chip time.

Challenging Events is run by an all-female management team and this fact was recognised by runner Dan Cameron (44:03) who posted this on Facebook: "You ladies do an amazing job and one of the best races I do. The photos are awesome and represent exactly what the race is. Everyone is welcome, cheered on and supported. Exactly how a race should be. Top work."

Visit the Challenging Events website here for full details of their swim, bike, run and multi-events programme throughout the year.

Results can be viewed at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy Challenging Events on Facebook