Biggest Beast Yet!

Sunday 11^th June saw the biggest and best Sutton Beast event to date!
The Sutton Beast incorporates The Tony Robinson 10K and The Mini Beast Fun Run, and this saw record numbers of entries in both races with nearly 600 runners taking part. On a glorious day, Donovan Blake of ITV News set the runners on their way. The Mini Beast Fun Run saw athletes ranging from 3 years old to 73 years old and was a fantastic and colourful spectacle. The Beast himself appeared out on the course with his water pistol to keep the runners cool, and the crazy drummer set the rhythm and the spirits up as they passed. It was a very competitive race and last years winner Ben Isaacson reclaimed his title, while Jessica Lonnen was first home in the female category.
The 10K event also drew a record entry. It’s not called The Beast for nothing though – the route goes off the edge of The Isle of Ely down onto the plains of Sutton Gault, across a variety of surfaces and into very open and exposed territory, where this year the wind played a real part. After the warm up provided by BodyMode  the race set off with runners being recorded by chipped timing. The first male home was Sean McKenna  in 31 mins 40 secs and the first female was Lisa Marriott in a time of 43mins 47 secs
Supporters were there in abundance and were entertained with local musical star Citiglow and fed and watered by Sutton WI, Sutton Feast BBQ and The Dessert Man. The 1^st Sutton Scouts were also able to raise hundreds for charity with their amazing hamper raffle.
Organisers Martin Pickering and Stuart Green said “we are delighted with this year’s event. It is now one of the most popular events in the region and we are grateful for all the sponsorship, support and help we get from our community. We would like to thank all the runners for taking part and hope to see you all again next year”
The Sutton Beast takes place in Sutton in The Isle and has been going since 2000. The organisers are already planning how to make it even bigger and better in 2018.
Full results can be found at suttonbeast.com
Photographs: Jane Green and Alex Scott