Hundreds of runners took on the ninth Weymouth Half Marathon on a dark and wet St Patrick's Day morning.

A crowd gathered along the seafront as runners completed a 13.1 mile route around the town.

Over 1,200 runners began at Weymouth Pavilion at 8 am, before they made their way around the town as far as Portland Beach Road and back, across the seafront then out to Overcombe Corner before returning to the finish line back in front of the Pavilion. 

Finishing in first place was Charlie Williams with a time of 1:13:10.

Dorset Echo: Charlie Williams from Chickerell was the overall winnerCharlie Williams from Chickerell was the overall winner (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Mr Williams, 24, from Chickerell, said he went out "looking to win" the race as he prepares to run the London Marathon in April.

"There was a bit of wind coming back but it was nice when the rain stopped.

"It is nice feeling like you are being chased by one thousand people, that kept me going.

"I went out looking to win, I didn't expect to win but it's my third time doing the run.

"It is an amazing feeling, I can't believe it.

Dorset Echo: (from left to right) Ash Scott finished 4th, Tom Wraight finished 2nd and Matt Papa finished 3rd in the half marathon(from left to right) Ash Scott finished 4th, Tom Wraight finished 2nd and Matt Papa finished 3rd in the half marathon (Image: Tom Lawrence)

"It is nice doing a local race, it feels quite special.

"I am going to chill today and prepare for the London Marathon in a couple of weeks, hopefully, try and do sub 2 hours 40 minutes."

The fastest finishing female was Gill Pearson, who, like Mr Williams, is preparing to run the London Marathon next month.

Dorset Echo: Gill Pearson, 50, was the fastest finishing femaleGill Pearson, 50, was the fastest finishing female (Image: Tom Lawrence)

The 50-year-old from Yeovil finished with a time of 1:25:00, after recovering from surgery just before Christmas.

She said: "It was pretty tough, the wind was quite strong on the seafront at times.

"I was using this as a training run for the London Marathon, so I was meant to be pacing myself.

"It is not my quickest time, but I have been injured and had surgery just before Christmas."

In the last three years, she has placed first or second out of the female runners, with a win in 2022 and a second-place finish behind triathlon coach Nathalie Lawrence in 2023.

She added: "I am glad to have pulled back my title so it is a great feeling."