Well done all the runners who completed the course in fancy dress. We hope to see you back next year in even more bizarre outfits.

Once again runners in last Sunday’s 29^th Knowle Fun Run enjoyed ideal sunny running conditions. The wet and cold Spring weather certainly put runners off entering this year but those who did enjoyed another fantastic event organised by Knowle and Dorridge Lions. ‘We were delighted when the number of entries reached 1600 for the shorter 4.8 mile Fun Run. The extra effort required to move the start and finish to the front of Arden School in the past 2 weeks due to unsuitable ground conditions on the playing field paid off in the end.’

Overall winner for the second year was local resident Christopher Ashford who completed the 4.8 mile course in 24mins 21secs. After the run Chris said ‘This is the fourth time I have taken part, and as a Knowle resident I believe it’s the best Fun Run in Solihull. It’s a great course with no traffic and loads of residents outside their houses cheering us round I think the prizes are fantastic, and am really looking forward to my weekend’s drive of the Renault Megane Cabriolet’

Mary Rhodes now a regular face on BBC Midlands Today set the runners on their way on the stroke of midday.  ‘We were delighted when Alzheimer’s Research, one of the nominated charities, offered to get Mary along’, said Knowle and Dorridge Lion President Dave Carter. ‘She did a great job entertaining the Mini Runners and gave words of encouragement for the Fun Runners about to set out on their 2 lap run. She is a true professional’.

The Lions were grateful for the continued sponsorship from Hunters Estate Agency as well as many other companies. ‘Despite the financial situation all the costs of the day were met by corporate sponsors in cash or in kind before anyone entered,’ says organiser Adrian Harris, ‘so we were able to tell runners that every £ of entry fee, donation or sponsorship raised will go to our nominated charities, which also included Crossroads Care, Scout groups and other local causes. We hope to have raised over £35,000 when all the sponsorship has been received. Many runners raised funds for their own favourite charities and we shall never know how many thousands of pounds to add to that we receive’

The day started well when 250 under 9 year old Mini Runners were cheered around the Arden school fields each wearing their complimentary navy blue Fun Run t-shirt all keen to pick up their Mars bar and certificate of achievement. The winners Ben Garside, Sophie Lamaison, Blake Adams & Kate Woodman all received trophies & gifts courtesy of MiniRun sponsor Sytner Mini.

Winners of the team events this year were

‘It’s great to have a team organising such a popular and successful community event,’ said President Dave. ‘It takes well over 6 months effort for some of our Lions and 200 helpers on the day, we now have to thank so many people, too many to mention here, who helped to ensure the day went off without a hitch. Anyone interested in ensuring the continued success of the Knowle Fun Run should contact the Knowle and Dorridge Lions now via 2012@knowlefunrun.org.uk

The full provisional results and winners can be viewed on www.knowlefunrun.org.uk

Several full sets are being loaded onto http://www.knowlefunrun.org.uk/photographs/

Good luck to all the runners teams and individuals.

Don’t forget it is a FUN  RUN and it is the taking part that counts

Please ensure everyone entered via your email address is aware of the following:

KEY CHANGES – We had anticipated the development of a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) on the playing field at Arden School would be completed and safe, however due to the unforeseen unsuitable ground conditions around this new feature the Lions have decided for health and safety reasons that the start/finish of this year’s Fun Run must take place at the front of the School, exiting immediately onto Station Road.

This also means that the runners will not go into the playing fields in order to start their second lap but will turn left out of Purnells Way along Station Road, which will be divided into two streams. Those intending to run the second lap, and therefore the full distance, should stay to the left of the barriers. One lap only runners, and those intending to finish after their second lap should stay to the right of the barriers.

The shorter Fun Run will therefore finish back inside the front drive of the school where it started.

NO PARKING – As a result there will be absolutely no parking, even for 2 minutes whilst you register, at the front of the school. Please do not even try to enter the school drive on Station Road, all runners and spectators must enter on the footpaths not the drive. Milverton Road will also be closed to all traffic, so no parking there either. Remember if you park within the run route you will not be able to retrieve your car from the inside the road cordon until 2.00pm. So why not jog or cycle?  Cycle park facilities will be available at the school.  Bring a bike lock. Cycles will be left at your own risk.

REGISTRATION from 9:30-11:00 will be by surname in the school hall as usual. Bring a note of your registration number with you.  It will help us register you more quickly. If you have ordered a T-shirt pick it up INSIDE the hall before you register. The Mini-Run registration and FREE T-shirts will also be INSIDE the hall this year. The massage will be back on the stage in the hall provided by Spire Health this year.

Disposable chips: Attach yours through your laces and ensure you get a recorded time

The MINI RUNS will take place on the playing field as usual starting underneath the New Balance red arch. Mini Runners and parents are asked to make there way to the start arch for 11am taking care when crossing through the MUGA. The Year 3/4 Mini Run (Green numbers) will start first at 11am and the Year 1/2 (Yellow numbers) at 11.10am

Changing facilities are available in the Sports Hall after you register.  Please bring a bag for your clothes.  There will be free bag minding facility.  Bags will be left at your risk.

Only runners with Red numbers can start in the first start at 12.00. Everyone else will start at 12.10pm.  The start time makes no difference to your recorded time which is how the results are decided.

The roads will be traffic free so please run on the roads, not the pavements.  Keep to the left unless overtaking!  The faster runners will want to pass you.  The roads re-open and traffic resumes at 2.00pm so use the pavements then.

All STALLS including the BBQ, tombola & refreshments will be in front of the school on the car park so don’t forget to bring your money. All spectators are asked to view from the grass at the front of the school.

WITHDRAWAL – if you have withdrawn for any reason please let us know via 2012@knowlefunrun.org.uk. If we know by Sunday 6^th we can save on timing costs which can be allocated to the Fun Run charities.

Afterwards we shall publish the results as soon as practical on www.knowlefunrun.org.uk.

Please e-mail your feedback to 2012@knowlefunrun.org.uk.

Watch out for details of next year’s 30^th Knowle Fun Run when hopefully everything will be back to normal. Entries will open on New Year’s Day as usual.

Have a great Fun Run and good luck from the Organising Team.

It’s not very often we get runners prepared to come over the water especially. Google maps say it is 895 miles/15.5 hours by road & ferry but hopefully Dorthe will be flying

Does anyone know of any other runners travelling far to be with us this year?