This year’s Humber Bridge Half Marathon was the most successful to date so far, with over 2300 runners signing up to the race.

The winner of this year’s race was eighteen-year-old Callum Elson, with a time of 1:12:17 and the female winner, Beth Pascal, came in at 1:26:21.

The Humber Half is a not for profit race, with all funds raised after costs donated back into communities in Hull and East Yorkshire. This year, to celebrate Hull’s current UK City of Culture status, at least 10 local charities working to tackle loneliness and isolation, will receive grants of up to £2017.

In addition, many of this year’s grants will be matched by Help for Health, a local grant making organisation committed to improving the health and well-being of people living in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Smile has worked in partnership with the Rotary Club of Hull on the Humber Bridge Half Marathon for the past four years, and is delighted to support such an established local event. Smile became involved to help raise the profile of the event, and encourage more runners to sign up, which increases the Rotary Club of Hull’s charitable donation to local good causes.

Smile was also instrumental in bringing Hudgell Solicitors on board as main event sponsor, and the consequential brand enhancement has elevated the status of the event on both a local and national basis. One runner, Gordon Haigh, from this year’s race, was lucky enough to win an all expenses paid trip to New York and a place in the New York Marathon courtesy of Hudgell Solicitors.

This year Smile also secured Tesco Extra as Culture Partner of the race, sponsoring entertainment around the course and goodie bags for all runners. There was a 16-piece orchestra from Culture Music Hull as the finish line; the Karma Traders – a musical instrument playing duo at the three mile mark (and later shortly before the finish line); circus performers at the end of the Fast Cat Fun Run and the acoustic guitar playing Johny Kramer half way through the race in Barton.

The entire Smile team is committed to the enduring success of the Humber Bridge Half Marathon. This year, Smile’s Charity Director, Andy Barber, took part in the race itself, successfully completing the course in under 2 hours 30 minutes. Smile’s Community Development Manager, Nick Middleton, ran the Humber Half for a second time and ended with a PB of 2 hours.

This fantastic event would not be possible without excellent community teamwork and the support of local businesses, including headline sponsor, Hudgell Solicitors; Tesco Extra; Sargent Electrical; Sewell on the Go and Nippon Gohsei. Runners were also kept hydrated on the course with water from Sewell on the Go!

If you would like to sign up for next year’s Humber Bridge Half Marathon, please keep an eye on the Humber Bridge Half Marathon’s website, where online entries will be opening shortly.