Dock Square provided the start and finish for the Chatham Maritime Christmas Dash 5K attended by 122 dashers on Sunday (11th December). The annual promotion by Canterbury-based Sporting Events UK takes place with the kind permission of the Chatham Maritime Trust and the spectacular course showcases the St Mary's Island area and Chatham Marina.

Just about everyone came dressed to impress in their favourite festive outfits and with a prize for the best fancy dress – why not! There were all the usual Christmas characters but a special mention for Helen Crampton and Cath Abrahart who managed 5:30 per kilometre dressed as fully decorated Christmas Trees!

The route starts on Quarterdeck Walk before crossing Maritime Way Bridge onto St Mary's Island – once part of the Royal Chatham Dockyard and now home to 5,000 residents. The runners follow the riverside walk beside the River Medway on the out and back section before returning for the finish at Dock Square.

Conditions were a bit gloomy, with freezing fog, but that did not stop a good battle for honours at the front. M40 Lee Rogers (17:19) pulled clear for victory from Sean Barwick (17:50) and 17-year-old Harrison White (18:15).

Claire Hope (21:42) was the women's winner as runners-up Rebecca Seymour and Darcy Oliver shared 22:37 in a sprint finish. The first 22 finished within 25 minutes and everyone had collected their superb Christmas Dash event medals in just over 38 minutes.

Sporting Events UK was awarded "Best Athletics Events Management Company 2022" in the National Enterprise Awards and "Sports Event Management Company of the Year 2022" in the Global Awards. Check out their future events here.

Results of the Chatham Maritime Christmas Dash 5K are available via the runABC South race listing

Image courtesy Sporting Events UK on Facebook