Delayed Charmouth fun run finally gets going (From Thisisdorset)

Delayed Charmouth fun run finally gets going

10:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Latest By Rene Gerryts

AFTER falling foul of the floods in July the Charmouth Challenge and accompanying fun run went off without a hitch at the weekend.

They were postponed in early July after torrential rain and flooding sparked safety fears.

Despite the postponement and having only around half the usual numbers, who could chose from three different courses, the long-running event still made around £3000 for Charmouth Primary School.

One of the organisers Nick Bale said: “It was absolutely fantastic.

“We had 110 on the fun run and about 100 on the challenge which for a re-scheduled event was quite impressive, although half of what we would normally expect.

“But there was no way we could have run it safely on the day we had that awful flooding.”

Competitors for the most southerly fell race in England come from all over the south west.

Mr Bales said: “It is popular because it is beautiful scenery and a lovely course and I think because it is not a commercial concern there is a nice atmosphere – it is a bit like the village fete type atmosphere.”

All the money raised get spent on the school either on IT or play equipment and most importantly, said Mr Bale, on swimming lessons.

He added: “We have always taken the view that we cannot have children living in Charmouth who can’t swim.”

He said it wasn’t a very glamorous use of the money but with council budgets stretched a very necessary one.

“It is a lot of work to organise but there are a lot of people in the school pta who are prepared to do it, it is our flagship event.”

The race has been running for more than 25 years.