Events make for a memorable May Day bank holiday

Durnovarians went on the run to raise funds for local causes while people made the most of a sunny Sunday to picnic in the county town’s park.

The popular Dorchester and District Lions Club Fun Run saw around 500 people take part across the one-mile, two-mile and new timed 10km routes.

There were plenty of fancy dress costumes and novel ways of getting around on show, all in the name of charity.

Former county town mayor Les Phillips, who launched the first fun run nearly 30 years ago, was pushed round the two-mile course in a wheelchair to raise money for the Dorchester Association for the Disabled.

Mr Phillips, who was forced to retire from his role as a town councillor last year after representing the town for 46 years, raised more than £600 for the charity.

He was joined by local police Inspector Les Fry, who had junior members of Dorchester Rugby Club pushing his chair round.

Insp Fry said: “It’s a worthwhile charity and it’s a pleasure to do it.

“It’s a great way of showing support for people less able than ourselves.”

The fun run has raised more than £190,000 for a range of local causes since 1983 and Lion Andy Rose said he was hoping the money raised from the 2012 event would help tip the total over the £200,000 barrier.

He added: “Above all else we want to make sure this is a community event and even though we have introduced the 10km for more enthusiastic runners we want to maintain the fun element.

“That’s why we have got the one and two mile runners with fancy dress, or being pushed or walking round.”

Mr Rose said the new 10km timed route was introduced this year to tie in with the Prostate Cancer Charity 10,000 Challenge, which encourages people to take on a sporting challenge in recognition of the 10,000 people that die from prostate cancer every year.

Dorchester Mayor Tess James was among those taking part in the two-mile run and said she was impressed with some of the costumes on display.

She said: “I think they have all done really well and once more the Lions are on a mission to keep Dorchester fit and healthy.”

Also in the county town, the second Trades Union Council annual May Day picnic in the Borough Gardens attracted around 60 people with more expected later in the day.

Picnickers enjoyed music and speeches from speakers including Hugh Lanning, Deputy General Secretary of PCS and Catherine Craig, south west regional secretary of the PCS.

Tim Nicholls, of the PCS, said: “We’ve had a lot of sunshine and we’ve have been so lucky with the weather.

“This is only the second May Day Picnic we’ve had and everyone seems to be getting into it and enjoying it.”

The family-friendly event was themed around learning at work and featured a Learning Zone where people could find out more about unions.

Youngsters had the chance to meet Wenlock, the Olympic mascot, at the McDonald’s restaurant on Weymouth’s Jubilee Retail Park.

Wenlock visited the restaurant as part of the Mascotathon, which has seen him and Paralympic mascot Mandeville touring the region over the last three months.

The mascots hosted a series of games to inspire local children to get into the spirit of the Olympics.

McDonald’s operations manager Jacqui Cozens said: “We hope having Wenlock come to our restaurant helped build the excitement among the kids and inspired more young people to take up sports.”

Race placings

• Two Mile. Male 8-12 years – First: Louis Verkaik, Second: Tom Bradbury. Female 8-12 years – First: Elise Gill, Second: Eliza Bradbury. Male 13-35 years – First: Harrison Yarnold, Second: Andy Matthews. Female 13-35 years – First: Holly O’Flanaghan joint with Ella Allford. Female 36-50 years – First: Sally Warburton, Second: Rachel Allen. Male Over 50 – First: Ryan Jones. Female over 50 – First: Tess James, Second: Celia Robertson.

• One Mile. Disabled – First: Daisy Willis, Second: Robert Lockley. 4-7 years – First: Angus Blair, Second: Luke Poole. 8-16 years – First: Ellis Martin, Second: Finlay. Over 16: First: Lee Norman, Second: Matthew Dale.

• Group Runners One Mile. First in group: Daniel Horne, Second in group: Leon Elliott. Group Runners Two Miles. First in group: Ramsay Inkster, Second in group: Jack Warburton.

• Timed 10k Event Male – First: Fergus Johnson, 00:42:04, Second: Issac Verkaik, 00:44:20, Third: Andy Miles, 00:44:57.

• Timed 10k Event Female – First: Hannah Jeans, 00:45:30, Second: Amanda Milner, 00:48:02, Third: Zoe Hayward: 00:49:37.