Another record breaking year with 1752 participants!

What a day! On Sunday 11th May, a record 1,752 people took part in the 39th annual Sawston Fun Run & Walk – the biggest turnout we’ve ever had since it all began back in 1986. The sun was shining, the village was buzzing, and the streets were full of runners and walkers of all ages, many in brilliant fancy dress, all ready to enjoy a great day out.

The event has always been about more than just running – it’s a real celebration of our community. Thanks to everyone’s amazing support this year, we’ve raised a huge amount for local charities and organisations that help young people, the elderly, and vulnerable groups. A big thank you to everyone who took part, helped out, or sponsored the event – we couldn’t have done it without you. We’re already looking ahead to a special milestone next year: the 40th anniversary Fun Run & Walk, happening on Sunday 10th May 2026!

Thank you for making the 39th Annual Sawston Fun Run our biggest yet! With record-breaking numbers, glorious sunshine, and amazing community spirit, it was a day to remember. Your support helps raise vital funds for 24 local charities—thank you for running, walking, cheering, and making a real difference! View all 24 organisations

Wow! Record breaking year almost 1500 participants in 2024.

This year’s response from charities and good causes for funding at the 2024 Sawston Fun Run & Walk was nothing short of astounding. The passion and dedication exhibited by these organisations left us inspired and motivated. Amidst the sea of applications, we faced the challenging task of selecting recipients for our support.But guess what? Instead of narrowing our focus to just a handful, we’ve decided to champion the efforts of 24 smaller, local charities and organisations. These are the unsung heroes making a significant impact on our community, each with a unique mission that resonates with our values. By choosing this diverse group, we’re ensuring that our collective efforts make a widespread and meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.

HIGHEST ENTRY FOR SAWSTON’S FLAGSHIP EVENT

Sullivan Smith from Great Shelford sets the pace for Sawston’s 2023 Coronation Fun Run

Many of the runners took part in fancy dress to add to the fun of the occasion and were cheered on by a huge number of supporters of the event who lined the streets as the runners passed them by in their amazing costumes.
A Big thanks to Red Graphic and Open House Estate Agents for donating items for the lovely goody bags handed out to all runners at the finish, along with their special coronation medal and certificate.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and especially to the top 3 winners in each class. A full list of results is shown below.

Sawston Fun Run returns attracting massive entry and community support

The Sawston Fun Run, after a Covid lapse of two years, exceeded expectations on Sunday 8^th May with 1,115 entrants for the two charity fun runs. The reaction of runners and walkers confirmed its reputation as one of the most loved events of its type in the county. Organised by the Rotary Club of Cambridge Sawston, it attracted one of the highest turnouts in its thirty-six-year history and managed to raise a significant amount of money from sponsorship for this year’s beneficiaries. Since the event started in 1986 over £515,000 has been donated to local charities and organisations.

Over 100 people joined Jennifer Crompton, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, at Sawston Village College recently to celebrate the success of this year’s event and to hand out cheques to the value of £14,225 to all the delighted beneficiaries.

Elite runners, social runners and families completed either the 7.4k run or the shorter 4K route for walkers and the race for school years 1-6. The fine weather attracted large crowds also, who lined the streets, whilst Sawston Youth Group Band and the local Sawston Village College Samba Band provided musical entertainment in the High Street, giving encouragement to walkers and runners alike and generating a wonderful carnival atmosphere.

The start and finish at Sawston Village College attracted huge crowds who appreciated the local community stalls, a fire engine and fancy- dress competition that included runners dressed as a Skittle man, Bananas, Snowmen and a large family of Dalmatians. ‘It all added to the community fun atmosphere’ said the organisers.

Many of the entrants commented by saying ‘the appeal of the event is the special atmosphere created by the community support around the course’ – ‘it’s like the London Marathon, so different from normal runs’, ‘the best fun run ever’  – ‘I’m new to the village and if this is what the community events are like, I’m really glad I moved here’ – ‘ there will be a lottery among our staff to come here next time, we’ve all had such fun’- ‘next time I’ll bring both ice cream vans’ – ‘with the supporting crowds and Samba Band it’s just like the London Marathon’ – ‘one of the best runs I know – will definitely come next year’ – ‘can we be a sponsor next year?’

The overall winner was Andrew Mynott in a time of 24.31 minutes and the winning female was Isabella Shorten, a student at Sawston Village College in 29.27minutes. The first boy from the college was Mathew Smith who came first in his school year 7-11 category. Other winners were school years 1-6 Craig Calver and Amelie Crawford, 17–39-year-olds: Chris Kelly and Suzy Tautz, 40–54-year-olds: Andrew Mynott and Hannah Cooke and 55+ year olds: Shane Cahill and Chloe Brown.

Click Here to See Sawston Fun Run 2022 Video

Many in the community contributed by providing stalls at the venue or their time as volunteers, such as local aerobics trainer: Marlene Sharpe-Westwood, who got the runners warmed up, the local cricket club, scouts, army and air force cadets, members of other Rotary clubs and students from Sawston Village College – all helped in different ways.

Co-ordinator of the organising committee Gerry Holloway said ‘We were apprehensive about the appeal of the event after the Covid experience and we’re thrilled that so many people turned out in support as entrants, marshals or by staffing water stations. We wish to thank Jonathan Russell, Principal of Sawston Village College and the event sponsors Mica Hardware and Boswell Family Bakers. Other sponsors supporting the event this year were Adams Harrison, Auto Now, Adcock Refrigeration, Gibbs Denley, the Hill Group, McDonalds, Morgan Sindall, Red Graphic, Sawston Parish Council, Star Radio, Stagecoach and CityView.

The biggest winners of course will be East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice [EACH] at Milton, Cambridge and Rowan, a local charity that supports adults with learning disabilities. Others local groups to benefit will be Friends of Bellbird Primary School, Jigsaw Preschool, Shelford & Stapleford Youth Initiative, Boys Brigade, Pippins Preschool, Caring Together, Sawston Scouts, William Westley School PTA, Sawston Toy Library, A M Challis Trust, Sawston Girls Football Club, Sawston & Babraham Cricket Club, Sawston Nursery and dictionaries for six primary schools.

Beneficiaries

The two major charities to benefit from the 2022 Sawston Fun Run event held on 8^th May were:

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	Rowan, a local vibrant, independent charity that provides an arts centre and forest school for more than eighty adults with learning disabilities living in Cambridgeshire and adjoining counties. It offers a safe, creative, and enriching environment where the arts are used as a tool to bring people together and tackle social exclusion. Skills and potential of students are developed whilst their happiness, health and wellbeing are improved. Rose Bloomfield, Fundraising Engagement Manager has said ‘We are so happy to be involved with the Sawston Fun Run this year and all the funds raised will enable Rowan to continue to support local adults with learning disabilities.’ www.rowanhumberstone.co.uk/
	East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice [EACH], based locally and known as the Milton Hospice, it supports the families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. Their care is tailored for the needs of all family members and delivered where the families wish – in their own home, at hospital, in the community or at one of three hospices. Tina Burdett, Community Fundraising Manager has said ‘I’m delighted that East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices have been selected by the Rotary Club of Cambridge Sawston as a partner for the 2022 Sawston Fun Run. The event is a local institution and has done so much to help local organisations over its thirty- five year history, so it’s an honour to be involved.’ www.each.org.uk

 
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Thirteen other local charities and organisations will also benefit from the 2022 event: Friends of Bellbird Primary School: Jigsaw Preschool: Shelford & Stapleford Youth Initiative: 1st Sawston Boys Brigade: Pippins Preschool: Caring Together: Sawston Scouts: William Westley PTA: Sawston Toy Library: A M Challis Trust: Sawston Girls Football Club: Sawston & Babraham Cricket Club: Sawston Nursery: Dictionaries for seven local Primary Schools.

The Cambridge Sawston Rotary Trust
Charity Number: 1051512

 

Due to the coronavirus in 2020 the normal May event had to be postponed but in its place a Challenge Event, restricted to one hundred entrants, took place in wet weather in October. Each runner had pledged to raise at least £100 and started at intervals to comply with regulations. An amazing £26,000 was raised that took the cumulative total to over £500,000.

The main beneficiaries were the Sawston Village College Minibus Appeal, Cambridge Aid and Sawston Sports Centre swimming pool hoist with many local schools and youth groups being amongst the other twelve organisations to benefit.

Fine weather encouraged 1,106 entrants to turn out for the event; John Baslington, a former student of the village college and a regular competitor, came back from his army base to win the race. Sue Woods won her category for the fifth consecutive year and the most successful family were the Courtois family of Great Abington who had Simon coming first in school years 1-6; mother, Sophie coming second in the 40-54 and father, Vincent coming third in the 40-54 categories.

Many in the community contributed by providing stalls,  volunteers such as local aerobics trainer Marlene Sharpe-Westwood who got the runners warmed up, whilst over 30 members of The Cambridge Building Society undertook numerous supporting roles. The Sawston Youth Group Band attracted crowds in the High Street whilst the scouts, the air and army cadets, the cricket club, members of other Rotary clubs and students from Sawston Village College all helped in different ways.

 

2019 Fun Run V2 from Sawston Cinema on Vimeo.