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Thousands flocked to Sutton Coldfield for a landmark edition of a community event which has become a fixture in the town’s calendar. With cloudy, chilly conditions first thing on Sunday (June 4), the 2023 edition of the Royal Sutton Fun Run, the event’s 40th , looked like it would be perfect ‘cool runnings’ for those taking part.
But as ever with this 8.5 mile run through the streets of the Royal Town and the popular Sutton Park, the sun broke through just as the event began at 11am, making it tough for those taking part, especially those in fancy dress, in furry coats (think dogs) and tough posties hauling a Royal Mail van around. The fun run has been around since 1982 and barring the pandemic years, has seen runners take to the town centre raising millions for goof causes.
Last year’s fun run, the first after the Covid shutdowns, saw around 2,000 people take part. The 2023 edition felt more ‘normal’ with more than 4,000 runners signed up and many more lining the route to cheer them on.
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The run was started by Katie Smith, who was due to start the 2020 event before coronavirus intervened. And Brian Latham whose idea it was to have a fun run through Sutton Coldfield, mirroring the success of the Birmingham half-marathon. A tearful Brian thanked organiser Tracey Spare and his late father, Roy, for making his idea a reality.
In 40 years the event has raised £4.92 million for good causes, with 2023’s 40th edition expected to break the £5 million barrier. So while on the face of it, it’s a fun jaunt through the town, its effects benefit many, many more.
But it is a run taken seriously by athletes too. None more so than Jonathan Carter. The 39-year-old from Erdington was first over the line for a fifth time in eight outings, matching his first place last year. And this time it was in his quickest time. A scorching 45 minutes and 20 seconds. So quick there was no time for this observer to grab a coffee between him setting off (then the kids, adults with dogs and Royal Mail posties pulling a van) and him sprinting over the line.
What made Jonathan’s run more remarkable was Jonathan nearly pulled out after suffering a stomach upset. He took meds and powered through and said: “The crowds are fantastic. Last year I ran it steadier but this year I got my fastest time.”
Jonathan was followed Alex Adams from Stratford-upon-Avon, who is just 17. He has done the run a couple of times and had been leading but was pipped at the post. Alex had even done a 3,000 metre track race in Oxford on Saturday, which may have sapped a little energy, just as Cardiac Hill did. “It kills you,” he said.
In third place was Liam Harrold, who was third last year too. The 34-year-old from Sutton, who runs with Aldridge Running Club said: “It was great. A lovely race. There are always people out cheering through the park.”
The first woman across the line was Izzy Davis from Bath. The 28-year-old is a triathlete and returned to the scene of her first triathlon in Sutton Park five years ago. Izzy bought a bike for a charity ride to Paris and instead of leaving it collecting dust, decided she likes running and swimming too and a triathlete was born. Izzy’s boyfriend, Alessandro Zanconato grew up in Sutton and the couple do triathlons and now the fun run together.
Then came a riot of colour, fancy dress outfits and poignant, heartwarming tales. Take the Run for Neal team. Neal Hume is a stalwart of the Four Oaks Saints Cricket Club and suffered a serious stroke while decorating the club last November aged just 47. So 80 members of Neal’s friends and family joined the team organised by Nadia Bacciochi to help fund his physio and rehabilitation.
Neal’s brother-in-law, Chris Harris, was among them. “He was in hospital for six months after the stroke. Neal has always been a very active member of Four Oaks Saints. To support him when he came home, the club decided to put a team together. He’s lost the use of his right arm and leg.”
Sam Dawson was also part of Run for Neal and ran the fun run in cricket gear complete with pads, a helmet and carrying a bat. “I coach cricket and manage the juniors with Neal. He was a big volunteer and had a stroke decorating at the club. He’s done so much for the club for six or seven years, we wanted to do this for him.”
Every runner in fancy dress has a story. Garry O’Dwyer ran as Nintendo’s Luigi (although many shouted Mario – his outfit from last year). He was running for ‘the amazing’ Birmingham Hospice (previously John Taylor Hospice and St Mary’s Hospice) which supported his dad before he died last year.
He said: “I did it in fancy dress to raise money for the hospice. They looked after my dad and were amazing. Cardiac Hill between miles seven and eight is a killer. I had support from people at my children’s school, St Nicholas.”
That good cause was also backed by Pippa and Stuart Olliver who came dressed as Hetty the Hedgehog – swapping Hetty’s head over every two miles. They had only taken the hedgehog outfit out of the box on Saturday! They both work for the hospice’s Erdington branch (think John Taylor) and endured the blistering heat in the giant furry animal head to back it. “The support was lovely. But I couldn’t really see,” Pippa said.
Or a gang dressed as pints of beer from the WIP Running Club, a group of around 80 people that mix running with craft beer at the WIP (Work in Progress) bar in Tamworth Street, Lichfield and part of Run Beer Social. They have 85 in a WhatsApp group running every Wednesday and Sunday – then filling the fluids back up with beer!
Mary Hobin, 56, hails from Liverpool but now lives in Sutton and together with Sharon Moore, 52, from Erdington took part in the fun run in memory of Amanda Collinson, from Liverpool, They came dressed as Mickey Mouse on their t-shirts, with Minnie Mouse skirts.
Amanda was just 53 when she died of breast cancer and the Disney duo were backing Cancer Research UK in her memory. Mary said the support was ‘absolutely brilliant’. They said their outfits were tame this year after coming before as Minions and sumo wrestlers!
Andy Walker from Wylde Green was out pushing his daughter, Emily, 14 who has Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome. The teen ‘loves the people’ her dad said and was ‘clapping all the way around’, as they supported the NICE – National Institute for Conductive Education.
Zoe Fidock came dressed as a strawberry to raise cash for the Sepsis Trust which helped her nephew, Loki, who had the condition and lost his leg to it. The 40-year-old said this was her first Sutton fun run in 20 years but has done other runs like the London Landmarks and Birmingham Half Marathon.
“They gave my nephew a 30 per cent chance to live as he got sepsis after getting Strep A and an ear infection. Thankfully at the time doctors spotted the symptoms but he lost a leg. I came as a strawberry as they are happy, juicy and cheery. The amount of support you get – it’s pretty much the whole way around the course. That’s what I love about it.”
While the Real Life Church had more than 60 runners and walkers raising cash for local Sutton foodbanks. The team was organised by Rob and Ro Armstrong. Matt Yates, 45, speaking on the team’s behalf said: “We have raised around £4,2000 for food banks to help them out. The people and support the whole way around has been brilliant.”
And how about Jonathan Holmes and Darren Hitchings dressed in full high vis PPE (personal protective equipment) including hard hats as worn by staff at their firm Enable Infrastructure which works on things like repairing railway stations or ‘troughing’ on railway lines. They wore the kit to raise cash for Birmingham Settlement ‘giving people in communities a better start in life’. Jonathan praised the camaraderie and Darren said the amount of people giving encouragement was amazing’.
The most energetic runner at the finish line was Harley, a one-and-a-half-year-old dog pulling Bethany Jones, 26, who was with mum Karon, 60, and friend, Tracy Boxley, 52. Tracy was taking part a day before her 53 rd birthday. Karon said: “It was a bit tough trying to get past people. But Harley is used to going with us on seven mile runs and she runs away from us so runs even more! Everybody loves her!”
This year’s event will almost certainly smash the £5 million mark raised in 40 events over 41 years. The Royal Sutton Fun Run is a blend of town and park, endurance and fun, personal triumphs and selfless effort. It is a celebration of community and all that is good in society. Long may it continue.
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