Race report: MBNA Chester Marathon, MBNA Metric Marathon and MBNA Mini Marathon - Sunday, October 4, 2015
Photo: The MBNA Chester Marathon gets underway
Thousands of runners took to the starting line on Sunday (4 October) for the sixth annual MBNA Chester Marathon.
Almost 3,500 runners of all ages and abilities signed up to the weekend’s elite race – the multi award-winning MBNA Chester Marathon – with international runners coming from as far as Australia, China, Costa Rica, Morocco and Russia to take on a course that’s renowned for its iconic route and personal best potential.
This year also saw the return of the 26.2km MBNA Chester Metric Marathon, which attracted more than 1,100 runners – selling out weeks before the race despite organisers doubling the capacity of this year’s event.
A popular fun run – the MBNA Mini Marathon – took place on the same day with 350 children and their families running a one-mile lap around Chester Racecourse to help raise money for the race’s 2015 charity partner, the Countess of Chester Hospital’s Babygrow Appeal.
David Rigby from Preston Harriers Athletic Club emerged victorious in the MBNA Chester Marathon, completing the 26.2mile course in a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 47 seconds. He was closely followed by Daniel Chan from Barnsley who finished in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 58 seconds, and Ben Fish from Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club in third place with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 48 seconds.
The fastest female runner was Samantha Amend from Belgrave Harriers, who crossed the finishing line in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 9 seconds.
In the MBNA Chester Metric Marathon, Matt Adcock from McCarkiss Endurance Project took first place in the men’s race with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes and 38 seconds. The fastest female was Es Burford from Bloxham in Oxfordshire, who crossed the line in 1 hour, 49 minutes and 2 seconds.
“It’s been an unbelievable weekend of distance races and once again we have to thank the thousands of runners that took part and the spectators that helped create such a wonderful atmosphere right along the route,” said Chris Hulse from Chester-based race organisers Active Leisure Events.
“We’ve been really lucky with the weather again today and the conditions were almost perfect – we’re expecting a significant proportion of our runners to have set new personal best times in the MBNA Chester Marathon today and the course is ideal for that as it’s largely flat and very fast.
“To attract 5,000 entrants to these events is a significant achievement and it really helps to put Chester on the map as an international destination of choice. We hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and we’re looking forward to more of the same in 2016 with both these races and the Chester Half Marathon in May!”
Fundraisers taking part in the three events are expected to have raised more than £700,000 for a range of good causes. The Babygrow Appeal hopes to have raised £15,000 from the event to put towards the building of a new Neonatal Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
“We’ve proudly supported this event since its inception in 2010 and during that time many thousands of inspirational fundraisers have taken part and helped raise millions of pounds for a variety of local and national charities”, said Patricia Brassil Poole, Head of Partner Management at MBNA.
“The MBNA Chester Marathon has become an integral part of Chester’s annual events calendar and it’s fantastic to see the international draw of the race, with runners coming from all over the world to take part at the weekend.
“The introduction of the MBNA Mini Marathon and more recently the MBNA Metric Marathon has added an even broader appeal to this event, opening up participation to runners of all ages and abilities which is something we’re delighted to see. The race continues to grow from strength-to-strength and we hope that continues for many years to come.”
The 2016 MBNA Chester Marathon and MBNA Chester Metric Marathon will take place on Sunday 2 October 2016 and both races are now open for early bird registrations.
Photos: David Rigby and Samantha Amend – male and female winners in the MBNA Chester Marathon
Places at the MBNA Chester Marathon start from £45 and online entries are available here
MBNA Chester Metric Marathon places are available from £35 here
The 2016 Chester Half Marathon is also open for entries. Taking place on Sunday 15 May, places can be booked from £30 here
Men's MBNA Chester Marathon results
|
1 |
David Rigby |
2:24:47 |
|
2 |
Daniel Chan |
2:26:58 |
|
3 |
Ben Fish |
2:27:48 |
Women's MBNA Chester Marathon results
|
1 |
Samantha Amend |
2:49:09 |
|
2 |
Carla Molinaro |
2:51:50 |
|
3 |
Hannah Jarvis |
2:54:31 |
Click here for full results
Men's MBNA Chester Metric Marathon results
|
1 |
Matt Adcock |
1:30:38 |
|
2 |
Alexander Miller |
1:35:48 |
|
3 |
Tim Toner |
1:37:18 |
Women's MBNA Chester Metric Marathon results
|
1 |
Es Burford |
1:49:02 |
|
2 |
Sophie Hunt |
1:49:38 |
|
3 |
Myra Jones |
1:52:14 |
Click here for full results
