Ben Noad won the 25th Dulwich Harriers charity 10km race, which raised an estimated £5,000 for charity.

Noad, of Highgate Harriers, took the lead from James Trapmore of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers after 3km and then left behind Highgate team mate Ben Pochee two-thirds of the way around the course.

Noad’s winning time was 31 minutes, 51 seconds, with Pochee second (32.31) and Trapmore third (33.41).

The womens’ race was won by Clare Elms, from the organising club, in 36.51.

Elms has now won 64 races this year and is the British and Southern Masters champion in cross country, 1,500m and 5,000m.

Paddock Wood’s Tina Oldershaw (38:04) and Maria Heslop (38:44) were second and third.

Karl Toomey ran the 10km backwards in 57 minutes. It was his first race as a backwards runner and he intends to run a marathon in that fashion to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

It is a pretty dangerous task as Toomey had collisions with a bin, a lamppost and a pothole in training, but he got around the Dulwich course without accident.

The race was started by comedian Jo Brand who promised cake and cigarettes for anyone who couldn’t make it around the course.

“She said: I am glad I wasn’t doing it because I would have gone about half a kilometre and then had to lie down.

“But it was a great family atmosphere and I feel like I should get in training next year.”

The charities to benefit were Wheels for Wellbeing, Magpie Dance and the St Christopher’s Hospice Candle Project.

The event was generously sponsored by BMI The Blackheath Hospital, Olleys Fish and Chips and Dulwich Audi. All the prizes were donated by local businesses and on the day nurses from The Blackheath Hospital supported the event by offering free blood pressure checks for the runners and spectators from the local community.

Children’s Races 2 mile race 1st boy, James Allen, Forest Hill Boys 1st girl, Natalie Falshaw, Bromley High 1 mile race 1st boy, Noah Aromi, Blackheath Preparatory 1st girl, Tanny Forshaw, Bromley High Club website: dulwichrunners.org.uk