The serious runners liked the cool temperatures at this year’s Knowle Fun Run last Sunday with most category winners times much improved on recent year’s.
“It was really tough for me this year after completing the London Marathon 3 weeks ago”, said runner David Hofton Director of Hunters Estate Agents who have been the Fun Runs main sponsors for 20 years. “The Lions work really hard to make a success of this great community event, they deserve all the accolades they receive.”
This year’s overall winner Yousef Al-Lathaa from Birmingham for the second year in succession, a late entry on the morning, improved on his time of last year by over 1 mins 30 secs, beat local resident Jonathon Jennings from Dorridge by a similar margin.
We had two category winners who have now won 4 years on the trot. Trevor Prickett and Jane Evans won the Super Veteran and 1st adult female trophies again, both improving on their previous times.
Provisional category winners:
| Category | Race Number | Name | Time | |
| 1st overall | 1468 | Yousef | Al-Lathaa | 27:03 |
| 1st local | 434 | Jonathan | Jennings | 28:59 |
| 1st adult female | 276 | Jane | Evans | 29:58 |
| 1st superveteran | 730 | Trevor | Prickett | 37:53 |
| 1st veteran male | 439 | Dave | Johnson | 33:41 |
| 1st veteran female | 337 | Monica | Green | 36:21 |
| 1st secondary boy | 719 | Josh | Porter | 31:50 |
| 1st secondary girl | 121 | Georgie | Campbell | 36:23 |
| 1st junior boy – 2 laps | 534 | Tomas | Maidment | 36:30 |
| 1st junior girl – 2 laps | 886 | Ellen | Taylor | 37:26 |
| 1st junior boy – 1 lap | 2012 | Jake | Collins | 17:08 |
| 1st junior girl – 1 lap | 2024 | Ciara | Gahan | 21:09 |
| 4 runners home aggregate time for TWO laps | ||||
| Team Name | Aggregate time | |||
| Junior | The 4 Knowle-ateers | 02:38:27 | ||
| Secondary | Lyndon School | 04:23:49 | ||
| Adult | Knowle & Dorridge RC A Team | 02:06:18 | ||
BBC presenter Rebecca Wood who had promised to bring sunny weather, set the runners on their way on the stroke of midday. “Rebecca proved to be a true professional, interviewing the trophy winners and selecting the Fancy Dress winners based upon their reasons for running in fancy dress”, said Richard. “Together with the Hollywood Monster she did a great job entertaining the Mini Runners and gave words of encouragement for the Fun Runners about to set out on their 2 lap run.” Winners of the Fancy dress prize were Greg Hart and the Tilehouse Trotters pushing an ingenious Viking Ship alleged to have sank on the first lap.
“We were delighted to have nearly 1900 entries for this year’s Fun Run & Mini Runs”, said Richard. “The Lions were grateful for the continued sponsorship from many companies who helped cover the costs of staging the event. We really appreciate how lucky we are to have the support of a long list of local companies. This enables us to tell runners that every £ of entry fee, donation or sponsorship raised will go to our nominated charities, which also included Arthritis Research UK, Knowle FC, Solihull Young Carers and other local causes. We hope to have raised over £40,000 when all the runners sponsorship has been received. As usual many runners raised funds for their own favourite charities and we shall never know how many thousands of pounds to add to that we receive, unless they tell us.”
The day started well when almost 300 under 9 year olds took part in 4 Mini runs wearing their complimentary yellow Fun Run t-shirts were cheered around the Arden school fields all keen to pick up their Mars bar and certificate of achievement. The winners all received trophies & gifts courtesy of MiniRun sponsor Sytner Mini.
| 2015 Knowle Fun Run Mini Run Winners | ||||
| Year 1 | Girl | 146 | Emma | Woods |
| Year 1 | Boy | 129 | Harrison | Wibberley |
| Year 2 | Girl | 264 | Molly | Weaver |
| Year 2 | Boy | 263 | Lucas | Bailey |
| Year 3 | Girl | 318 | Lara | O’Brien |
| Year 3 | Boy | 309 | Joseph | Davis |
| Year 4 | Girl | 415 | Roisin | Reddington |
| Year 4 | Boy | 408 | Jack | O’Leary |
“It’s great to be part of a team organising such a popular and successful community event,” said organiser Richard. “The Lions have been involved in the organisation of the Fun Run for 32 years now. We have to thank a large number of sponsors and nearly 200 helpers on the day without their help the Fun Run would not happen let alone raise over £40,000 for charity. Anyone who may like to help the Lions with this or their other fundraising activities please get in touch now via info@knowleanddorridgelions.com”
The full results and photo gallery can be viewed on www.knowlefunrun.org.uk
Photos: NewBold Images
Lions District 105M Midlands News Blog 