Molly’s Boys, from Romsey, picked up the trophy for the all-male relay marathon for the second year running.

Winchester dentist Richard Hurrell completed his 20th Clarendon Marathon on Sunday (October 3), writes Rachel Masker.

The sun shone for the start of the gruelling 26.2 mile cross-country race, slogan “its tough but you’ll love it,” between Salisbury and Winchester. More than than 1,000 runners pulled on their trainers for the event.

There were several sporty families competing, including Mr Hurrell’s son David, 23 and daughter Kate, 28, in the half-marathon while his wife, Helen, also a dentist, ran the five-mile race with the couple’s black Labrador Tess, 13, a veteran runner.

Among the other super-fit families were Karen Hazlitt in the half-marathon joined by her husband Simon and daughters Annabel and Olivia, both in their 20s, all running to raise funds for Friends of the Family, one of the Mayor of Winchester’s charities.

Mrs Hazlitt is chairman of trustees of the charity working with parents and children finding it difficult to cope with family life. “They did a great job,” said Mayor Cllr Vivien Achwal, who donned her chain of office and congratulated runners as they crossed the finishing line at Kings’ School.

Boys and girls from 11th and 14th Winchester Scout Group presented medals to all competitors.

Overall winner was James Fulcher who completed the marathon in 3:11:27, while Maxwell Jenkins won the half-marathon in 1:28:28 and Robert Spencer the five mile race in 37:07.

Karen Hacker was the fastest female in the marathon (3:42:47 ) and Mia Hamblin, 22, from Headbourne Worthy, the half marathon (1:38:16).

Winchester Theatre Royal boss, Deryck Newland, ran a marathon and a half to raise £2,000 for Play to the Crowd, Hat Fair and Playmakers. Mr Newland ran not one but two races: the Clarandon Marathon and Winchester Half-Marathon last month.

Ian Valentine, president of Winchester Rotary, paid tribute to the organising committee and 200 volunteer marshals, some of who braved torrential rain and winds that battered Britain on Saturday to put up signs for the event.

He said: “It’s just fantastic we have so many volunteers as well as Rotarians who just want to help. The event is a major fundraiser.”

Clarandon Marathon participants have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes during the past 22 years. The annual event is organised by Winchester, Salisbury and Sarum Rotary Clubs.