1,200 runners sprung into action last Sunday (16 April 2023) for the 17th staging of the BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K.

The BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K 2023 was won by Ben Taylor from Pensby Runners in a time of 34 minutes 17 seconds.

2nd place was Derri Henderson from Kirkby Milers AC in 34 minutes 45 seconds, with Matthew Gawne from Altrincham And District Athletic Club in 34 minutes 54 seconds.

Lisa Gawthorne took 1st place female in 38 minutes 3 seconds representing Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers AC.

Alison Reid from Northern Masters Athletic Club took 2nd place in 41 minutes 54 seconds, with 3rd place going to Donna McKenna from Penny Lane Striders in 42 minutes 11 seconds.

Runners were presented with a commemorative medal and bespoke technical running T-shirt to mark their achievement.

The race also include:- 2 wheelchair participants, Sarah Benyon from Wirral and Roger Mercer from Chester. And the day’s most senior runners were aged between 73 and 82 years old.

Runners also included a team of 31 from:- Rainford High School in St Helens, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of a colleague.

The largest turn out of runners from local clubs included:- Kirkby Milers AC, Liverpool Running Club, Mikkeller Running Club Liverpool, Penny Lane Striders, Rimrose Runners, and Wallasey AC.

Fondly known locally as the:- ‘new tunnel,’ the Kingsway Tunnel was opened on:- 24 June 1971, by the late Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II. The race is the only time throughout the year when people can make their way through the Kingsway Tunnel on foot and run under the River Mersey; making it 1 of the most unique running events in the country. Since the race was reintroduced in 2006, it has taken place annually with the exception of 2020 when there was a break of almost 2 and a half years between races due to the Pandemic. Post Pandemic, the race was staged in September both in 2021 and 2022.BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region.

The date for next year’s race is confirmed as:- Sunday, 14 April 2024; retaining its popular Spring date in the race calendar; and entries are already open on the BTR website.

The BTR Liverpool race portfolio also includes:- Port Sunlight Road Race, on:- Sunday, 11 June 2023, and Wirral 10K, on:- Sunday, 15 October 2023.

During 2023, a hat trick of BTR Liverpool headline events reach major milestones. The BTR Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon was staged for the 30^th time in March 2023. The next 2 anniversary events are the 20^th BTR Liverpool Santa Dash in December and 10^th BTR Tour Of Merseyside in June 2023.

This year’s overall event campaign is dubbed as 30/20/10; 30 Years, A Life On The Run, and focuses on the hat-trick of key events all spearheaded by a passion for running from an early age from BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell.

BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell explained:- “Congratulations to our 1,200 participants; including 2 wheelchair racers; who completed this year’s BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K. All pushing on through the wind and rain to collect their well-earned medals. BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K is unique. There is always a brilliant atmosphere, with plenty of oggy oggy oggy chanting between the runners to spur each other along. A big thank you to everyone who took part, the spectators, and excellent volunteer teams from Everton in the Community, LFC Foundation, and Liverpool Running Bugs. We’re delighted the race is back in its traditional Spring date and the week before the London Marathon. Next year’s date is already confirmed as 14 April 2024; entries are open now.”

The race records remain intact. The overall winning time stands at 30 minutes 52 seconds, set in 2016 by Dejene Gezimu from Liverpool Harriers AC. The female record is 36 minutes 19 seconds, set in 2019 by Kirsty Longley from Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers.

Next in the BTR portfolio are Run For The 97 5K and 1 Mile, in Stanley Park, on Saturday, 27 May 2023, followed by the Port Sunlight Road Race 5K, 10K and 1K Fun Run on:- Sunday, 11 June 2023.

Full details and online entry can be found at:- BTRLiverpool.Com

BTR MERSEY TUNNEL 10K 2023...

First 3 Male Finishers (gun times)

Ben Taylor                   Pensby Runners                                                       34:17

Derri Henderson         Kirkby Milers AC                                                        34:45

Matthew Gawne          Altrincham And District Athletic Club                         34:54

First 3 Female Finishers (gun times)

Lisa Gawthorne           Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers AC               38:03

Alison Reid                  Northern Masters Athletic Club                                 41:54

Donna McKenna         Penny Lane Striders                                                  42:11