Brighton Half Marathon: Runners complete seafront race

Elite runners and novice half-marathoners alike streamed across the city cheered on by loved ones and friends on Sunday.

The race included fun runners, those in fancy dress and even a runner carrying a fridge as the course wound past the city’s landmarks.

Martha and Jasmine, both 20, said they were raising money for two charities close to their hearts.

Jasmine, from London, was raising money for the Royal Marsden Hospital as her mum continues to fight kidney cancer. Martha, from Leeds, raised money for bone cancer research in memory of a friend.

Martha, right, and Jasmine raised thousands for their charities (Image: The Argus)

Jasmine said: “It makes me feel really proud. I raised over £3,000.”

Martha added: “The run was so fun. The course was pretty flat which was a bonus.

“It’s so important to raise money for charity through these events.”

The race was started by Gareth Thomas, former Welsh and British and Irish Lions rugby captain. Other famous faces in the race included Barbie and Sex Education actor Connor Swindells and comedian Zoe Lyons.

Runners raised money for a number of good causes including Sussex Beacon, the Alzheimer’s Society and other causes close to their hearts.

Other runners also went for personal bests and, in some cases, world records. Shaun Challis set the world record for completing a half marathon dressed as a surfer, running the course carrying a surfboard and wearing flip flops.

Shaun Challis set a new world record for running a half marathon dressed as a surfer (Image: The Argus)

He said: “Generally it wasn’t too bad. It’s amazing, I’ve wanted a world record for my whole life so its great to finally have one.

“Now I’ll get warm, chill out and have a beer.”

Argus reporter George Carden also completed the race, raising money for Sussex Beacon. A relay race of Brighton politicians including council leader Bella Sankey and Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle also completed a relay of the event for the HIV charity.

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The men’s race was won by Marshall Smith, who went one better than his second-place finish from last year.

Cassie Thorp set a new course record for the women's race of one hour and 15 minutes as she crossed the finish line in Madeira Drive.

Claudia Burrough also set a new record in the women's wheelchair event. Ilias Zghoundi won the men's wheelchair event.

Runner Taylor Tunstall, from London, said: “I was given my ticket for the race by a friend at the last minute. I had done dry January and did a few runs so I was feeling pretty good about the race.

Taylor Tunstall (Image: The Argus)

“This was my first time doing the Brighton Half Marathon but I’ve done a few before. I’ve got friends here cheering me along.”

Richard Mander completed the race in just under one hour and 20 minutes, a new personal best.

Richard Mander, right, and Paul Brennan (Image: The Argus)

He said: “It was very good, I did it last year and was four seconds off an hour and 20 minutes so it was great to improve this year.”

Runners started the race on Brighton seafront before heading towards Brighton Marina and then back into the city centre. The course weaved around some of the city’s most famous sights including the Royal Pavilion, Brighton i360 and Palace Pier.