YESTERDAY’S hot weather failed to cool the enthusiasm of participants in one of the region’s most popular road runs.

Despite the warm and sunny weather, a record field of more than 1,200 runners completed the 22nd Sherwoods Darlington 10k road run.

Organisers said the event had gone extremely smoothly, with runners taking a sensible attitude to the conditions by pacing themselves and taking on plenty of water.

Winner of the men’s race was 21-year-old Nick Swinburn, of Morpeth Running Club, who completed the race in 31 minutes and 18 seconds.

He told The Northern Echo: “I’m pretty tired. I’ve had a hard week’s training and I did a fell race last weekend, and that takes it out of your legs.

“I don’t think I could have gone any faster. If there had been anyone there to challenge, I would have been second, I reckon – or dead.

“The crowd are really amazing for a 10k, considering it’s not a championship. They gave really good support.”

Coming in first for the women was Aly Dixon, of Chester-Le-Street AC, who took the title for the second year running, but failed to beat her record-breaking run last year, reaching the finish in 34min 28sec.

In the 3k junior event, Sedgefield Harrier’s Jonathan Baines was first past the post, in 10min 12secs. The girls’ winner was Charmaine Porter, of Jarrow and Hebburn AC, who completed the race in 11min 38sec.

Although the race is now organised by Darlington Borough Council, it was initially started by Darlington Rotary Club and still helps to raise thousands of pounds for Rotary charities.

Race organiser Jeff Dawson said: “We have had a record number of entries, with more than 1,200 runners completing the race.

“It seems to have maintained its popularity and we have had a lot of late entries this year, which may have been brought on by the good weather.

“Medically speaking, it has been good. The warm weather presents its own issues, but everyone seems to have run sensibly and taken enough water on board.

“The race, now in its 22nd year, is well-established.

Considering Darlington is a relatively small town, the support we get is wonderful.

We have had runners from as far away as Edinburgh and Manchester, and the race is an excellent warm up for the Great North Run.”