Mersey Reporter - Merseybites News

MORE than 1,500 enthusiastic runners pulled on their trainers last weekend for the 11th staging of the Port Sunlight Road Race.

The event on Sunday, 9 June 2024, featured 2 competitive races covering 5K and 10K distances, as well as a 1K Fun Run for youngsters aged 12 and under which attracted almost 200 youngsters.

3 of the top 4 finishing places were secured by Wirral clubs Wallasey AC and Pensby Runners. 2 podium places were also taken by runners from Unilever Port Sunlight.

This year's races sold out 2 weeks before event day; and is the highest number of entries since the event has been staged Post Pandemic.

Entries are already open for next year's race, on:- Sunday, 8 June 2025, at:- BTRLiiverpool.Com.

Port Sunlight Road Race is organised and delivered by independent race organiser BTR Liverpool in conjunction with Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT).

1st staged in 2012, Port Sunlight Road Race is well established in the Region's race calendar.

Unilever Port Sunlight supported the event as headline sponsor for the 9th consecutive year.

On the day, 115 runners from Unilever Port Sunlight took part across both races, including a team from the company's Sunlight Runners group.

Official proceedings for the event; which included:- starting the races, handing out medals, and prize presentations; were conducted by:- Emily McArdle, Trustee of Port Sunlight Village Trust, and Cameron Jones, Head of Unilever Port Sunlight.

The day's activities centred round Port Sunlight Village Green. in the heart of the picturesque setting, next to Port Sunlight Museum.

Runners can use their race number to enjoy free entry into Port Sunlight Museum, until:- 1 December 2024.

The 5K route took runners along the tree lined boulevards and perfectly manicured gardens of Port Sunlight village. The 10K followed 2 laps of the 5K route. Runners were presented with a commemorative medal and T-shirt after completing their races.

A group of 250 runners also took on the dual race challenge; completing the 5K race, quickly followed by the 10K. They collected two medals and T-shirts, along with a 3rd bonus medal to celebrate their achievement.

1 of the day’s most senior runners:- 77 year old Sidney Molyneux, from Wirral, who completed the dual challenge race.

A total of 578 runners completed the 5K race.

Port Sunlight Road Race 5K 2024 was won by Christopher Jones from Wallasey AC, with a time of:- 17 minutes 15 seconds. This is the 2nd consecutive year he has taken the top honours in the race.

2nd place male was David Hinde from Chester Tri in:- 17 minutes 37 seconds. Kieran O’Brien from St Helens Striders took third place with:- 17 minutes 52 seconds.

1st place female in the 5K was Paulena Kremling from Wallasey AC in:- 18 minutes 51 seconds.

2nd place was Evie Melissa Smith from Warriors Pentathlon Athletics Club in:- 20 minutes 1 second. Lynsey Coan from Unilever Port Sunlight took 3rd place with:- 20 minutes 41 seconds; this was a second consecutive podium place after she won the same race in 2023.

The 10K race saw a total of 942 runners completed the race.

Port Sunlight Road Race 10K 2024 was won by Ben Taylor from Pensby Runners, in:- 33 minutes 24 seconds.

2nd place was Justin Strover from Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC with a time of:- 35 minutes 25 seconds. Matthew Johnston from St Helens Striders was 3rd, in:- 35 minutes 58 seconds.

1st place female in the 10K was Rachel Jacks from Southport Waterloo AC. with a time of:- 40 minutes 31 seconds.

2nd place was Marleen Renders from Unilever Port Sunlight, in:- 42 seconds 13 seconds; taking the same position for the second consecutive year. Ellie McGuinness was 3rd place, in:- 42 minutes 17 seconds.

Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) is an independent charity and custodian of Port Sunlight, an exemplar worker village created to support the wellbeing and productivity of the Lever Brothers soap works employees and their families.

As custodian, PSVT works with important stakeholders to protect the heritage, ensure a great quality of life for people, and promote understanding of Port Sunlight’s global value and relevance.

Emily McArdle, Trustee of Port Sunlight Village Trust, commented:- "This event is always a real highlight in the Port Sunlight calendar. Well done to all the runners, especially those visiting for the very first time, and we hope to welcome you back next year. A big thank you to our residents who support the event by either taking part, spectating and everyone on, or volunteering."

Port Sunlight is Unilever's historic UK home, created by 1 of the company founders William Lever to provide his Sunlight Soap factory workers with decent, affordable houses.

Unilever today continues to have world class manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and IT facilities based in Port Sunlight. Unilever's brands; including:- Persil, Dove, Tresemme, Radox, Comfort, and Surf; can be found in 98% of households in the UK.

Cameron Jones, Head of Unilever Port Sunlight, added:- "What a fantastic day for the village and a brilliant turn-out, with a lot of people saying this was the best year yet. Unilever Port Sunlight has sponsored the event for the ninth consecutive year as part of our commitment to promoting health and wellbeing. Congratulations to everyone who took part, our team of 115 and the Sunlight Runners. You all did yourselves very proud."

Volunteer teams included:- Birkenhead Park Running Club, Claire House Children’s Hospice, Marsh Lane Harriers, and members of the Merseyside running community.

The race record times remain in tact.

The 5K record was set by Joseph Boden, from Wallasey AC, in 2019, with a time of:- 15 minutes 28 seconds. The female 5K record is held by Helen Sahgal, from Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers, in 2018, with:- 18 minutes 13 seconds.

The 10K record is;- 30 minutes 19 seconds, set by Dejene Gezimu from Liverpool Harriers, in 2016. The female 10K record was set in 2016 by Sophie Whiteside, also from Liverpool Harriers, with a time of:- 36 minutes 42 seconds.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region.

Next in the BTR race portfolio is the 52 mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside, starting on:- 30 June 2024, including races in:- Thurstaston and New Brighton, as well as the BTR Wirral 10K, on:- Sunday, 13 October 2024.

Full details about BTR events can be found at:- BTRLiverpool.Com

Events in the Liverpool City Region:-