The sun came out to play on Sunday for the first ever Phoenix 5. Hosted by Stevenage Phoenix, the race started and finished in Shephalbury Park and took runners on an out and back route past the Lamex stadium, Fairlands valley and a circuit of the lakes area before retracing their steps.

There were many running clubs well represented as they had chosen the race as their club championship 5 mile event. Competition at the front of the field was fierce with the winning time of 26 minutes 23 seconds set by Mo Elbayan of Stopsley Striders, followed by Sam Stratford (Hi Runners) in 27 minutes 51 seconds and Casey Stevenson in 28 minutes 48 seconds (Kettering Town Harriers). In the ladies competition Christine Lathwell of Stopsley Striders was first in 33 minutes 4 seconds with Paula Downing (Mablethorpe Runners) in 34 minutes 5 seconds and Vicky Simpson-Thomas (Bishops Stortford)  in 34 minutes 6 seconds.

In the team competition Bedford Harriers picked up the ladies award (Abigail Turner, Dea Ditchfield and Kirsty Robertson) whilst the men of Ware Joggers (Vincent Rivière, Tim Brignell and  Matt Brown) picked up the men’s award.

A total of 402 runners completed the course and claimed the colourful bespoke medal, t shirt (over 100 elected to donate the cost of their t shirt to Tress not Tees) and cake! Jo Jo’s ice creams and Dee Dees cakes and coffee were very busy all morning.

The race generated £4,000 for the four nominated charities Garden House Hospice, Knebworth Food Bank, Cardiac Risk in the Young and Project H Defibs. In addition, £140 was collected at the cake stand for Cancer Hair Care.