RUNNERS were out in full force to take part in the UrbanX – Earley 10k fun run on Sunday.

Over 330 running enthusiasts took on the multi-terrain course which started and finished at Laurel Park.

After a lap around the football pitches and Maiden Erlegh lake, the challenging route moved out onto the footpaths and roads around the town. Mayor of Earley Linda Chambers said: “Sunday was brilliant, it was really well organised (by Incurro). We had around 130 children take part, and around 200 adults. This year we had people come from far and wide to take part, I’m sure everyone enjoyed it”.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Mrs Chambers hopes the run will expand into something bigger. She said: “This is a great community event, it brings people together. This year Laurel Park Football Club opened the pavilion and served tea, coffee and snacks to residents, but as the event grows I would like to have (refreshment) stands in the park”.

John Thompson, director at Incurro, an event organising and fund raising company said he was pleased with the success of the event despite a slight hiccup towards the closing stages.

He said: “Two or three people accidentally wound up going the wrong way after some direction tape got broken. Unfortunately the tape was just at a point that the course turned so they did get a little lost.”

“These things do happen but they have been offered free entry for next year.”

This year 130 male competitors completed the course, with Royston Maddams, 34, leading the field with a time 35 minutes and 4 seconds.

In the women’s field of 84 finishers, the first woman home was Alix Eyles, 34, with a time 41 minutes and 52 seconds, smashing last year’s course record set by Reading Roadrunners Claire Marks, by 2 minutes and 21 seconds.

A total of 130 young people aged between seven and 16 entered the junior 2.5km event, with budding athlete Josheph Mott winning the race with a time of 8 minutes and 59 seconds.