70 pictures from TTP Cambridge Half Marathon 2021 as 9,500 runners take part in Festival of Running finale
About 9,500 runners took part in the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday, which formed part of the weekend’s Festival of Running in the city.
The 13.1-mile run was a sell-out after becoming what organisers OSB Events said was one of the fastest-selling mass participation events in the UK. Pre-registration for the 2022 event has already opened.
Like the Town and Gown 10k and 3k, which preceded it on Saturday, our photographer was there to capture the action, and we’ll have a special souvenir photographic supplement in this week’s Cambridge Independent featuring both events.
Attracting novices and experienced athletes alike, the Cambridge Half has proved attractive not just because of its flat, closed-street course, but also thanks to the beautiful scenery and landmarks.
This year’s route began and ended on Midsummer Common, before heading out on Newmarket Road and Elizabeth Way, round Mitcham’s Corner and Chesterton Road, before heading into the historic city centre via Garret Hostel Bridge.
The run took in the grounds of King’s College, the Backs and the Fitzwilliam Museum before looping out of the city centre on The Fen Causeway and Barton Road, heading down to Grantchester and back in to the city centre via Trumpington Road, heading through Bene’t Street, Petty Cury and Sidney Street.
Some much-needed distraction towards the end of the run was provided as it headed through Jesus College, before the finish line was reached back in Midsummer Common.
First home was Jonathan Escalante-Phillips, of Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club, in a lightning quick 1:06:12. Jonathan, in the 25-29 age category, averaged a pace of 3:08 minutes per kilometre and achieved a speed of 19.12km/h for the run.
Next home was Bure Valley Harriers’ Callum Bowen-Jones, in the 20-24 age category, who finished in 1:08:20, while third was Cambridge Squad’s Tom Vickery, in the 35-39 age category, who completed the course in 1:09:06.
The first woman home was Cambridge University Hare and Hounds runner Emma Hodson, in the 35-39 age category, in 1:17:10, with two women from Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club taking the second and third spots - Clare Thurgood, in the 35-39 age group, who finished in 1:20:00 and Charlotte East, in the 25-29 age group, who clocked 1:22:22.
Runners raised thousands of pounds for good causes, including for headline charity partner Cancer Research UK, which has a research institute in the city. It uses the vital funds raised to fight more than 200 cancers.
National charity partners Alzheimer’s Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Charlie Waller Trust and Muscular Dystrophy UK also benefited.
Local charity partners included Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, Tom’s Trust, Power2Inspire and CPSL Mind.
There were also a host of gold bond charities who had runners raising funds for them, including Maggie’s, Wintercomfort, Cambridge United Community Trust, Centre 33, Camsight, Magpas Air Ambulance, Papworth Trust, Khandel Light, Brainstrust, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Special Effect - the gaming charity.
Other gold bond charities included Action for Children, The Kite Trust, Sports Connections Foundation, Home Start Cambridgeshire, Cogwheel Counselling, Something to Look Forward To, Cambridge Rare Disease Network, Romsey Mill, Lifecraft, Cambridge Street Aid, Spectrum, Prostate Cancer UK, Spread A Smile, Internet Watch Foundation, Myelopathy.org, The Red Hen Project and Rowan, ensuring that every step added up to something valuable.
The Charlie Waller Trust had 50 runners taking part this year’s and was hoping to eclipse the £48,000 raised last year.
They include teacher Heidi Sturdy, from Cambridge, who said: “I’m running for Charlie Waller because mental health matters. It impacts everyone, even if not directly and I wanted to do something to help support those who are affected by it.”
The mental health charity was founded by the Waller family in 1997 in response to the tragic loss of Charlie to suicide at the age of 28, while he was suffering from depression.
Charlie’s brothers Rick and Phil and Charlie’s niece Imi Waller were among the runners.
Rick, a Cambridge University graduate and Chair of Trustees at the Charlie Waller Trust, said: “Cambridge holds a very special place in my heart and I can’t think of a better and more inspiring setting to run a half marathon. We are incredibly grateful for the support we get from the whole Cambridge community in this fantastic event which has become a really important fundraiser for the Charlie Waller Trust.”
Clare Stafford, CEO of the Charlie Waller Trust, said: “The Cambridge Half Marathon has become an important feature in our fundraising calendar and we want to thank everyone running for Charlie Waller this year. The money raised will help our ongoing work to support children and young people who may be struggling with their mental health which is especially vital in these uncertain times and with the unprecedented impact of the pandemic.”
Don't miss our souvenir supplement
The Cambridge Independent will feature souvenir picture specials from both the Town and Gown 10k and Cambridge Half in our edition out from Wednesday, October 20.
Read more
Gallery: Runners tackle Town and Gown 10k and junior 3k as part of Cambridge Festival of Running
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See our photo galleries from the events back to 2017
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101 pictures from Cambridge Half Marathon 2017
Gallery: 2019 Newton Town and Gown 10k
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