The Waters Wilmslow Running Festival 2025 was one for the history books, as two female course records were shattered on Sunday, 23rd March.
Elite athlete Sharon Kipchumba of Team Imani travelled all the way from Kenya to compete in the Asics Half Marathon, and she didn't disappoint—setting a blistering new female course record of 1:10:50. Meanwhile, British elite athlete Kirsty Longley of Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton H AC delivered an incredible run in the Asics 10K, breaking the female course record with a time of 36:29.
The men's half marathon saw another Kenyan victory, with elite athlete Robert Mwei from Team Imani taking the top spot. In the men's 10K, James Brown of Bury AC claimed the win in a competitive field.
The festival's spirit extended beyond the elite races, with Freddie Wilson and Imogen Garnett (Stockport Harriers) taking the victories in the Fun Run.
One of the organisers Nick Bishop said "With thousands of runners and spectators lining the streets, the event was a true celebration of the sport. The energy was unmatched, with hundreds of dedicated volunteers and marshals ensuring everything ran smoothly. A huge thank you goes out to them for their incredible efforts.
"The local residents, in particular Mobberley went out of their way to provide the thousands of runners rousing support along the route, offering high fives and sweets to keep them fuelled."
Photos courtesy of Mick Hall Photos.
