'Brilliant turn-out' for 11th Port Sunlight road race

The event on Sunday (June 9) featured two competitive races covering 5k and 10k distances, as well as a 1k fun run for youngsters aged 12 and under which attracted almost 200 youngsters.

According to the organisers, three of the top four finishing places were secured by Wirral clubs Wallasey AC and Pensby Runners. Two podium places were also taken by runners from Unilever Port Sunlight.

This year's Port Sunlight 5k road race gets underway (Image: Erica Dillon) The Port Sunlight 1k fun run 2024 gets underway (Image: Erica Dillon) This year’s races sold out two weeks before event day – and is the highest number of entries since the event has been staged post pandemic.

The Port Sunlight 2024 road race Dual Challenge runners (Image: Erica Dillon) Port Sunlight road race 2024 5K runners (Image: Erica Dillon) Entries are already open for next year’s race on Sunday 8 June 2025 at https://www.btrliverpool.com/port-sunlight-event

Port Sunlight Road Race is organised and delivered by independent race organiser BTR Liverpool in conjunction with Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT).

First staged in 2012, Port Sunlight Road Race is well established in the region’s race calendar.

Unilever Port Sunlight supported the event as headline sponsor for the ninth consecutive year.

On the day, 115 runners from Unilever Port Sunlight took part across both races, including a team from the company’s Sunlight Runners group.

The Port Sunlight Road Race 2024 Unilever runners 5K (Image: Erica Dillon) Cameron Jones and Unilever Port Sunlight group (Image: Erica Dillon) The 5K route took runners along the tree-lined boulevards and perfectly manicured gardens of Port Sunlight village. The 10K followed two laps of the 5K route. Runners were presented with a commemorative medal and T-shirt after completing their races.

A group of 250 runners also took on the dual race challenge – completing the 5K race, quickly followed by the 10K. They collected two medals and T-shirts, along with a third bonus medal to celebrate their achievement.

Sidney Molyneux, Dual Race runner on Port Sunlight road race day (Image: Erica Dillon) One of the day’s most senior runners – 77-year-old Sidney Molyneux from Wirral – completed the dual challenge race.

A total of 578 runners completed the 5K race.

Port Sunlight Road Race 5K 2024 was won by Christopher Jones from Wallasey AC with a time of 17 minutes 15 seconds. This is the second consecutive year he has took the top honours in the race.

Second place male was David Hinde from Chester Tri in 17 minutes 37 seconds. Kieran O’Brien from St Helens Striders took third place with 17 minutes 52 seconds.

First place female in the 5K was Paulena Kremling from Wallasey AC in 18 minutes 51 seconds.

Cameron Jones from Unilever and Paulena Kremling, winner of Port Sunlight road race 5k (Image: Erica Dillon) Second place was Evie Melissa Smith from Warriors Pentathlon Athletics Club in 20 minutes 1 second. Lynsey Coan from Unilever Port Sunlight took third place with 20 minutes 41 seconds – this was a second consecutive podium place after she won the same race last year.

The 10K race saw a total of 942 runners completed the race.

Port Sunlight Road Race 10K 2024 was won by Ben Taylor from Pensby Runners in 33 minutes 24 seconds.

Emily McArdle from Port Sunlight Village Trust with 10k winner Ben Taylor (Image: Erica Dillon) Second place was Justin Strover from Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC with a time of 35 minutes 25 seconds. Matthew Johnston from St Helens Striders was third in 35 minutes 58 seconds.

First place female in the 10K was Rachel Jacks from Southport Waterloo AC with a time of 40 minutes 31 seconds.

Emily McArdle from Port Sunlight Village Trust with 10k winner Rachel Jacks (Image: Erica Dillon) Second place was Marleen Renders from Unilever Port Sunlight in 42 seconds 13 seconds – taking the same position for the second consecutive year. Ellie McGuinness was third place in 42 minutes 17 seconds.

Emily McArdle, Trustee of Port Sunlight Village Trust, said: "This event is always a real highlight in the Port Sunlight calendar. Well done to all the runners, especially those visiting for the very first time, and we hope to welcome you back next year.

"A big thank you to our residents who support the event by either taking part, spectating and everyone on, or volunteering."

Cameron Jones, Head of Unilever Port Sunlight, added: "What a fantastic day for the village and a brilliant turn-out, with a lot of people saying this was the best year yet.

Port Sunlight road race 2024 1k fun runners for Claire House (Image: Erica Dillon) "Unilever Port Sunlight has sponsored the event for the ninth consecutive year as part of our commitment to promoting health and wellbeing.

"Congratulations to everyone who took part, our team of 115 and the Sunlight Runners. You all did yourselves very proud.”

Volunteer teams included Birkenhead Park Running Club, Claire House Children’s Hospice, Marsh Lane Harriers, and members of the Merseyside running community.