Ethiopian athlete Wondiye Fikre Indelbu delighted the watching spectators by storming home to win this year’s Aycliffe 10k race wearing only one shoe.
The 1500m silver medallist at last summer’s Paralympic Games kicked off a loose shoe when he was only two-thirds of the way round the course, but carried on to cross the line in 32 mins 18 secs.
He finished 31 seconds ahead of Jim Bulman of New Marske Harriers, who was runner-up for the second year in a row, with last year’s winner James Askew of Durham City Harriers third in 33:11.
Now in its 16th year, the race was organised by Aycliffe Running Club and sponsored by 3M Aycliffe, Great Aycliffe Town Council and Northumberland Water.
Shona Fletcher of Richmond & Zetland Harriers was the first woman home in 38:29, with Sharon Bulman of New Marske Harriers second in 40:41 and Bernadette Caygil of Darlington Harriers third in 41:02,
“It was a great race and congratulations to Wondiye for putting on such an incredible performance,” said race director Trevor Needham. “We had over 300 entries this year and we would like to thank our sponsors for helping us to make it all possible.”
The bright weather attracted a large number of local people to line the route through Newton Aycliffe to cheer on the runners, many of whom were raising money for local and national charities.
As well as sponsoring the event for the 12th consecutive year, the 3M site at Aycliffe also had runners taking part in the race together with friends and family members.
The 3M site’s plant engineering services manager Alan Kellett added: “We are very proud to be associated with this event and this was one of the best races ever. The organisers once again succeeded in putting on a great day for the community and everyone taking part should feel really proud of their achievements.”
The annual 3K fun run held before the main event also attracted another 174 entries and this was won by Ethan Edwards, with Callum Smith second and George Dixon third.
Below: The Mayor of Newton Aycliffe, Councillor Barbara Clare with Councillor John Clare, 3M Aycliffe site manager Dave Watson (right) and 3M runners David Gurden-Williams, Graham Bostock and Austin McGlynn.
