The 21st Kenilworth Half Marathon (September 11) saw runners and the local community turning out to enjoy the event in pleasant conditions.

With last year's event cancelled due to Covid-19 it was encouraging to see the normality of people gathering for a sporting event and local businesses who chose to open early on Sunday were well rewarded.

Over the years the Kenilworth half marathon has enabled Kenilworth Runners to raise more than £100,000 for local charities in addition to the fundraising performed by individual runners on the day.

After a two lap route was trialled for the last event, the race reverted to a single lap format which saw the runners start in the centre of town before heading through Kenilworth Castle then across country to Beausale for a loop round the village before heading back into Kenilworth.

This season the race was also chosen as the Midland Masters half marathon race with all Midlands based runners competing for that title.

Myton hospice were a significant charity present at the race with a number of their fundraisers running to raise money for their cause and their volunteers present at the finish promoting it with some of them having to dig deep to complete a half marathon distance for the first time.

The race was won by Chris Sharp of Knowle and Dorridge RC in 1:10:51 and there were 582 finishers.

Andy Siggers finished in 1:15:56 to become the first Kenilworth Runner home in third place overall to also claim the bronze medal in the Midland Masters.

Rachel Miller was the first Kenilworth lady home in 1:29:36 for 58th place overall and fourth female.

Sam Garforth came home in tenth with 1:18:15 before a double finish of David Lowe in 21st place (1:22:04) and Harry Purewal in 22nd (1:22:06).

Hari's face was radiating pure joy upon the realisation he had smashed two minutes off his previous personal best.

Some images from the day as well as a table of results from Kenilworth Runners can be seen at the top of the page.