Hundreds of runners descended on Hale Village this Easter Sunday to take part in a new race event.

The BTR Hale Village 5 Mile event was introduced following the cancellation of this year’s Run The Bridge – an established Easter Sunday race – due to work on the new Mersey Gateway crossing.

A field of almost 350 runners set off from Hale Park after the race was officially started by the Lord Mayor Of Hale Village, Paul Turton.

The course was a loop of Hale Village taking in Cocklade Lane, Pepper Street, Town Lane, Hale Gate Road, Halebank Road, Higher Road, Ramsbrook Lane and High Street, before returning to Hale Park.

The overall winner was Ben Russell from Liverpool Harriers AC with a time of 25:20 (chip time), followed by Anthony Taylor from Manchester in 27:24, with Liverpool Harriers AC’s Michael Fitzsimmons taking third place in 27:29.

The first female home was Sarah Griffiths from Leigh Harriers AC in 29:25, followed by Kirsty Longley from Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Harriers in 29:33, and in third place was Gemma Connolly from St Helens Sutton AC in 30:15.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events in Liverpool City Region. BTR already host a race in Hale Village as part of the 52-mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside.

The new race brought back memories for seasoned runners as the course took a similar route as the old Hale 5 staged in the 1980s and 1990s.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell said:

“We had an excellent field of almost 350 runners for the new Hale Village 5 Mile race. Race conditions were perfect and it was a fantastic way to start Easter Sunday.

“Hale Village is an ideal backdrop for race events and it proved very popular with those running here for the first time. A number of ‘Tourists’ taking part in the Tour Of Merseyside also ran to scope out the course ahead of their 52-mile challenge in July.

“We must thank Halton Council and the people of Hale Village for welcoming us, and well done to the runners, spectators and volunteers who all make our events so special.”

Runners were invited to raise funds for children’s charity, KIND, which is celebrating 40 years supporting disadvantaged children and their families.

Finishers all received a commemorative medal, T-shirt and goody bag.

The next event in the BTR calendar is Run For The 96 5K community legacy run to remember the 96 Liverpool fans lost in the Hillsborough tragedy. The fun run takes place on Sunday, 19 April in Stanley Park, Liverpool. Visit www.btrliverpool.com for more details.