December 27th every year is traditionally the date of the Wheaton Aston 10k, a popular post-Christmas road race hosted by Newport & District Running Club that allows runners from all over the Midlands (and beyond) to blow off the Christmas cobwebs. Starting and finishing at Wheaton Aston primary school, and taking in an anti-clockwise lap of the village and surrounding countryside, the race features around 50 metres of elevation gain, and passes through some very scenic countryside, including two crossings of the Shropshire Union Canal. The race always sells out, and the local community come out in force to support the runners, of which this year there were 432 finishers.

Overall winner Jonathan Morris

The overall winner of the men’s race was Jonathan Morris, who completed the course in 32 minutes, 5 seconds, just 10 seconds ahead of second placed Christopher Gidlow. Henry Webb of Cannock AC rounded out the podium, finishing in 33:10. The women’s race was won by Rebecca Timmings of Birmingham Running and Triathlon Club; she ran a time of 36 minutes, 40 seconds, around a minute ahead of second-placed Sophia Harrison (Swansea Harriers), who stopped the clock at 37:42. Kate Wells of Telford AC took third, with her time of 38:28.

Rebecca Timmings was the first female finisher

Host club Newport & District were well represented, with 22 runners taking part, as well as a large number of their members volunteering in various roles so that the race could go ahead. Alex Cochrane was the first NDRC runner to take the finish, stopping the clock at 38:17 in 26th place overall. He was followed by Harry Wilmot, who won the under-20 male category, as well as finishing 48th overall in a time of 39:19. Daniel Miles was 114th with his time of 45:36, followed by Peter Johnstone, who was 127th in 46:27, and David Evans, who ran a time of 47:51 in 142nd place.

There’s usually fancy dress on show at the Wheaton Aston 10k!

Graham Rogers was in hot pursuit, taking 145th place in 47:59, whilst Adam Baker clocked 48:48 as he finished 155th. John Metzger stopped the clock at 50:29 in 168th place, whilst Amy Hughes was first NDRC female to finish, taking 198th position in a time of 52:03. Dale Fordham was 228th in 54:00, whilst Ola Zbroszczyk matched his time in 229th. Andy Dale finished 235th with his time of 54:42, whilst Ralph Humphries was 282nd in 57:08 and Selwyn Plant finished 303rd in 58:40. 

Some of the fancy dress turned a few heads!

Stephanie Egleston finished 336th with her time of 1:02:21, whilst Helen Dale stopped the clock at 1:03:11 in 353rd place. Matthew Humphries finished 372nd with his time of 1:05:34, whilst Louise Patterson ran a time of 1:08:16 in 385th position. Liz Holbrook was 392nd in 1:09:08, whilst Rachael Hughes clocked 1:20:08 to finish 427th. Neil Fairbrother completed the course as the sweeper (no official time).

Ola Zbroszczyk (502), Dale Fordham (158) and John Metzger (yellow hat) were amongst the many runners representing NDRC in the race!

Full Results: https://www.stuweb.co.uk/race/3gY

Photos from Bryan Dale’s Race Photos website (free downloads) can be found here: https://www.racephotos.org.uk/Wheaton%20Aston%2010k%20(2025).htm