BILLED as Britain’s Tastiest 10K, the first ever Marathon Du Malton took place over the weekend, with runners enticed around the course with a range of tasty treats.

The inaugural marathon was a sell-out event with approximately 250 runners taking part in the run on Sunday.

Along the way they were fortified with a range of local produce.

As a nod to the Marathon Du Medoc, the race started with a shot of wine from the Medoc region, courtesy of Maison Du Vin.

Tom Naylor Leyland, director of the Malton Community Interest Company, appeared on the balcony of the old Conservative club, in the centre of the Market Place to toast the start of the race.

Participants were able to snack on Yorkshire Curd Tarts from The Patisserie, Mini Bunny Burger Sliders supplied by the Talbot hotel, Sloemotion Hedgerow Gin served by McMillans of Malton, Mini Yorkshire Puddings accompanied by roast beef from the Malton Cookery School, A shot of Horsetown Beer on Richard Fahey’s Gallops, Macarons from Florian Poirot and an award winning Helles lager shandy from Brass Castle Brewery. Onlookers enjoyed Malton’s Street Food Sunday where street food traders fed the crowds around the pop-up picnic area.

The route had been planned by Visit Malton CIC, which also organises the Malton Food Lovers Festival, Street Food Sundays, the Monthly Food Markets and the upcoming Harvest Food Festival.

The organisers of the Marathon Du Malton took inspiration from the Marathon Du Medoc; an event that takes place every year in France’s wine region – attended by around 10,000 participants in fancy dress embracing a 26.2-mile run accompanied by a feast of cheese, wine, oysters and the rest of the season’s finest produce.

Tom Naylor-Leyland, director of Visit Malton CIC, said: “We are absolutely thrilled, our very first Marathon Du Malton was a sell-out success. We have been inundated with requests from even more interested participants, so are already in the planning stages to bring a bigger Marathon Du Malton back next year.”