MORE than 500 runners took to Chester's City Walls as the traditional Boxing Day race took place in glorious sunshine.

Once again organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club, the four-mile event saw runners begin with a loop of Chester Racecourse before heading underneath Grosvenor Bridge and joining the historic walls by the Old Dee Bridge.

Competitors then ran anti-clockwise around the walls, passing the Eastgate Clock, before stepping off at Chester Racecourse and racing towards the finish line.

Taking victory were Peter Taylor-Bray and Sarah Hunter.

Peter, representing Helsby Running Club, clocked 20 minutes 54 seconds for the multi-terrain course, ahead of runner-up Chris Smithard (21:09) and third-placed Max Walk (Cambridge and Coleridge AC) who posted 21:17.

Sarah (Ackworth Road Runners) was first lady in a time of 24:10, ahead of Tracy Rogers (Buckley Runners) who clocked 24:46, and third-placed Rebecca Rosalski (Chester Road Runners) in 27:20).

All finishers were rewarded with a ceramic medal based on a painting of the Eastgate Clock by local artist and successful runner Louise Diggle.

Host club West Cheshire AC, was represented by Michael Young (fourth in 21:52), Henry Robinson (first under 20-man in 23:54), Jon Park (16th in 24:07), Steve Fernyhough (second over-40 man in 24:31), Tom Booth (29th in 25:43), Andy Manson (third over-45 man in 26:17), Andrew Barratt (second under-20 man in 26:21), Jack Sheppard (fifth over-40 man in 26:59), Dave Gough (fourth over-60 man in 28:58), Adam Howe (121st in 31:30), See Kim Siow (12th over-50 man in 32:34), Phil Howe (197th in 34:18), Lis Oats (15th over-45 lady in 37:24), Rosemary Rogers (first over-70 lady in 38:21), and Mark Povey (335th in 39:36).

There was also a strong turn-out from the Chester Road Runners, with 70 taking part. Completing the race in under 30 minutes were, in addition to Rebecca Rosalski, Tom Levitt (25:28), James Houghton (26:39), Paul Cormack (27:28) and Jillian Malone (28:36).