Around 1,000 runners spent Sunday, May 14th pounding Herefordshire’s roads in support of St Michael’s Hospice.

The new-look Festival of Running featured the county’s first ever single lap Marathon.

Funds from the Festival, which also included Half Marathon, 10K and 5K routes, are set to top the £60,000 raised for Bartestree-based St Michael’s during last year’s event.

The Marathon was won by Sage Pearce-Higgins in a time of two hours, 52 minutes. His brother, Alfie, came third, with James Beauchamp between them in second.

“It’s a tough course,’ said Sage, who grew up in Herefordshire but now lives in London.

“The marshals were great though and in all the right places, and there were enough water stations.”

The event was held at Hereford Leisure Centre on Holmer Road. The Marathon route took runners out to Weobley and Sarnesfield, before returning through Brinsop and Credenhill.

Stewart Lilley completed his first ever Marathon in a time of four hours, 31 minutes. “From Huntingdon Lane I had nothing left at all,’ he said. “But I’m delighted to have done it. The organisation was absolutely brilliant.”

Stuart has completed five Half Marathons before and says he likes a challenge. He also had a special reason for raising money for St Michael’s. “My sister was at the Hospice for the last few days of her life,’ he said. “They were fantastic to her and I’ve always wanted to give something back.”

The Half Marathon was won by William New in a time of one hour, 15 minutes. Charlie Jones won the 10K in 34 minutes, 19 seconds, with Aidan Webb winning first prize in the 5K in 20 minutes, 37 seconds.

Hospice events manager Matt Ashcroft said: “The Festival of Running has been a huge success. The St Michael’s Hospice Events season continues on Sunday, June 4th with Totally Wiped Out.