The Torbay Half Marathon & 10k made a spectacular return to the English Riviera on Sunday 21 September, drawing just under 3,000 participants and thousands more spectators to the seafront.
Organised by Taurus Events, the team behind Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival in Plymouth, the event was hailed a resounding success. Participants were cheered on by lively crowds and treated to a vibrant atmosphere, with live music near the start and finish alongside on-route entertainment.
This year’s edition broke records both on and off the course. Collectively, participants raised over £150,000 for charity, with Rowcroft Hospice, the official charity partner, receiving more than £55,000 thanks to the efforts of 287 dedicated fundraisers.
On the course, Shaun Dixon, British Championship 100km silver medallist, claimed first place in the Half Marathon with a time of 1:11:28, followed by Thomas Wraight (1:14:28) and Alex Sparks (1:14:39). The first female finisher was Naomi Flanagan of Torbay Tri-Club (1:24:02), followed by Ruby Orchard of Cornwall Athletic Club (1:26:02) and Ruth Wharam (1:26:57).
In the 10k, Tom Merson took first place in 32:08, ahead of Jamie Pullinger (33:09) and Luke Hayes (33:27). The first female finisher was Nikki Kelly (37:01), with Nicky Savil (40:02) and Sally Erith (40:07) close behind.
The event drew participants from across the UK and overseas, including entrants from countries such as the United States of America and Germany, who combined their challenge with a stay in Torbay.
National recognition has also followed, with the Torbay Half Marathon & 10k nominated by the Running Industry Alliance as one of the UK’s best medium-sized running events.
Suzi Cumberland, Managing Director of Taurus Events, said:
“We are incredibly proud of the work done by the whole team. The support from our sponsors, volunteers and participants has been critical to the success of the event, and we are delighted to bring it back to Torbay and honour the legacy of the original event founder, Greg Fine from Torbay Athletic Club.”
Looking ahead, the Torbay Half Marathon and 10k will return on Sunday 20 September 2026, with entries now officially open. Find out more or sign up at www.torbayhalfmarathon.co.uk
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