Belgrave Harriers runner Hassan Raidi won Sunday’s Elmbridge Road Runners Julie Button Memorial 10k race, pipping Gareth Price, of Shaftesbury Barnet, by just four seconds after a race-long duel.

Raidi recorded a time of 31 minutes, 42 seconds.

Anna Critchlow, of West 4 Harriers, claimed the women’s race in 37.24.

The Elmbridge Road Runners Julie Button Memorial 10k race sponsored by Air Products, took place on Sunday 26th July in fine weather.

The flat course starts near Walton-on-Thames progressing on the roads towards Hampton Court before returning along the scenic riverside towpath.

In the Men’s race Hassan Raidi of Belgrave Harriers had to battle right to the line to fend off the challenge of Gareth Price of Shaftesbury Barnet.

At the 4km mark Raidi had opened up a 15 second gap on Price who was followed by Ben Paviour of Herne Hill and Malachi Byansi of Belgrave.

However as the race progressed Raidi and Price began a race of their own and opened up a gap of over a minute on the field. At 6 km Price was 20 seconds adrift but in a terrific finish almost caught Raidi who won in 31.42 minutes with Price just 4 seconds behind in 31.36 minutes and Paviour 3rd in 33.02 minutes.

In the Ladies race Paula Rutherford of Wimbledon Windmilers set the pace and at 4 km led Marie Synnott-Wells of Ranelagh with Isobel Rea of West 4 Harriers in 3rd.

At 6km Rutherford was still ahead but now pursued by eventual winner Anna Critchlow of West 4 and Joanne Ronaldson of Ranelagh. Critchlow took up the lead in the latter stages to win in 37.24 minutes ahead of Rutherford, 37.47 minutes with Ronaldson 3rd in 38.53 minutes.

The Air Products prize for the first runner under the age of 20 went to Adam Villard of Stragglers in 38.49 minutes. The Elmbridge Resident’s Award went to Justin West in 34.47 minutes.

An outstanding run by David Wright of Ranelagh saw him win the Vets over 50 age-group in a terrific time of 34.10 minutes. This was best age-graded performance of the day.

The Men’s team prize was won by Clapham Chasers – James Ellis, Francis Staunton, Neil Aitken, Nick Stevens, Graeme Buscke and Danny Bell.

The Ladies team prize also went to Ranelagh – Janne Ronaldson, MarieSynnott-Wells, Liz Kipling and Emma Tomlinson.

All prizes were presented by Mike Adams of race sponsors Air Products who also entered a team.

A donation is made from the race proceeds to a local charity ‘Surrey Crossroads’. This is a local charity that supports carers who look after relatives with significant disabilities by supplying trained staff to assist families.

As part of a range of support in Walton, the charity runs a ‘Saturday Club’ that provides youngsters with a day of activities whilst their carers have a break. Ian Jobson, representing the Charity spoke about how the funds are used.