THIS year’s Oxford Half Marathon was hailed the best ever as thousands of runners pounded the pavements in bright sunshine.

The new-look race, which started and ended in St Giles’ for the first time, saw more than 7,500 people take part to raise funds for a variety of different charities.

The event yesterday allowed those taking part to race past many of the city’s most iconic buildings.

Some runners were delayed getting into Oxford in time for the start after train services were affected by engineering works.


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Organisers delayed the start of the race from 10am to 10.15am, but it is understood about 100 runners did not arrive in time.

And there was controversy when an elite runner, Vincent Boit, went off the route after it appeared he was wrongly directed.

Race organiser Jamie Warren said he thought the 13.1-mile run had been a huge success and added that support from people in the city had been “phenomenal”.

Oxford Mail:

Race winners Steve Naylor and Fabienne Amrhein

He said: “It’s just fantastic. You look down St Giles and I think you would struggle to find a more picturesque start and finish.

“It’s delivered everything that Oxford is famous for.

“When you look at the popularity of Oxford, the landmarks, and the fact it’s flat, it makes me think this could become a really big race on the running calendar.”

Runners warmed up in University Parks before making their way to the startline in St Giles.

A sea of runners flowed down Magdalen Street while spectators cheered them on.

Competitors then made their way through the city centre before moving on to Banbury Road and Marston Ferry Road, and looping round to head back to St Giles.

Winner of the race, Steve Naylor from Witney, said the organisation of the event, the volunteers and the spectators had been brilliant.

The Blenheim Palace employee, who completed his first half marathon in one hour, 10 minutes and 24 seconds, added: “It’s a cracking course, a bit twisty in the parks, but I enjoyed it.

“I’m not normally a long distance specialist so today was a bit unknown. I kept the pace of the first two miles through Summertown, then through Marston I had a good lead, but they closed in on me.

“The Marston Ferry Road junction was great with everyone shouting – it’s been brilliant.”

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The Generation Games team

The first woman to cross the finish line was Oxford Brookes student Fabienne Amrhein, who like Mr Naylor, was also taking part in her first half marathon.

The 22-year-old from Germany finished the race with a personal best of one hour, 15 minutes and 55 seconds.

She said: “There were so many people cheering at us, it was awesome and I really enjoyed it.”

Great Western Railway spokesman Dan Panes said: “We would like to apologise to any customers caught up in Network Rail’s engineering works over-run. Anyone who missed the race can contact us to claim for compensation.”

Oxford Mail:

Kenyan runner Vincent Boit

Mr Boit, one of the favourites to win the race, said he was directed to turn left down Parks Road, rather than right, after there was confusion between the leading vehicles when he was about 600 metres in the lead. Mr Boit added: “I’m very disappointed.”

Mr Warren said: “We are aware there was an issue with the lead runner, who was quite a distance ahead of second place at that time, and we are looking into it.”