‘Chase The Pudding’ took place on Weymouth beach on 17th December. The event involves running a 5Km race, dressed in Santa costumes, from the Weymouth Pavilion to the stones at Greenhill, and back! For the under 16s there is a shorter route from the Pavilion to the Pier Bandstand and back.
The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the Will Mackaness Trust, a charity set up in 2008 at the Wey Valley School following Will’s death, and the hope now is to build on the legacy of the 2012 Olympics by giving water sport opportunities to the youngsters of Weymouth and Portland.
The Will Mackaness website states “Will was an avid sportsman who took a full and active part in all aspects of school life, despite undergoing intensive treatment for the most aggressive form of brain tumour.
“One of Will’s passions was water sports, especially windsurfing. It is for this reason that the trust’s aim is – to give more water sport opportunities to the youngsters of Weymouth and Portland so, they too, can experience the fun and exhilaration of windsurfing, sailing, paddle boarding and kayaking for themselves.”
Our photos below, by Leah Cranmer, show some of the contestants, including the KeeP 106 sports reporter Idris Martin.
Ready for the off, the two Christmas Puddings get ready for the start
The Santas snake around Weymouth Beach
The Santas in hot pursuit of the Puddings
The Keep 106 Sports reporter Idris Martin and his daughter Julie cross the finishing line