In weather more suited to October than mid-July an impressive 66 juniors aged between three and 13, and 100 adults up to the age of 68 braved the rain to run the first of this year’s Poppit Sands summer race series

The Juniors were led home by 13-year-old Cian Harries, followed by 12-year-old Iwan Lilley and 11-year-old Rhys Williams. The adult race was keenly contested with only 16 seconds separating the first three home, Pembrokeshire Harrier Roscoe Howell just pipping Glynn Price and Karl Palmer to the finishing line.

Whilst many before the race consoled themselves that the wet weather should make the beach more forgiving than if it was dry, the talk afterwards was that it certainly didn’t feel like it, particularly for those nearer the back, having to find the best route through well trodden sand.

Nonetheless, most of those present vowed to return for more punishment at the second race on Tuesday, July 25 – juniors at 7pm, adults at 7.30pm.