Santa Dash a record breaker

This year's Santa Dash drew a record number of runners, with 206 men and women taking to the streets of Douglas for Manx charities this lunchtime (Wednesday).

The entry smashed the previous best of 131 which was established last year.

First home in a time of four minutes 27 seconds for the three-quarters-of-a-mile course was Stephen Garrett who won £300 for his chosen charity - the Noble's Hospital Breast Care Unit.

Second, four seconds behind, was Jamie Newton who wins £200 for the Children's Centre, while the Centre won a further cheque of £100 courtesy of the third placed finisher Ed Gumbley.

Fastest lady Santa was Gail Griffiths, running on behalf of the Manx Stroke Foundation.  Her time was five minutes 15 seconds.

Further prizes of £100 each went to the best dressed male and female Santas who were judged to be Mark Emery, running for the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association, and Laura Gill (Ronald McDonald House and the Hyperbaric Chamber.)

Isle of Man Bank's charity fund also provided 20 prizes of £100 each for secret, but pre-determined, finishing positions.

The Santa Dash had earlier been started by the bank's community investment manager John Lindon who has organised the event for the past eight years.

This was his last Santa Dash before retirement next year and at the prize presentation in the headquarters of the South Douglas Old Friends Association he thanked everyone who had helped ensure the success of the event over the years.

He mentioned, particularly, his colleagues in the products and marketing department of Isle of Man Bank, Sergeant Wendy Barker, and the Isle of Man Constabulary, and the South Douglas Old Friends Association for their hospitality.

Mr. Lindon was presented with a gift, to mark his involvement with the Santa Dash, by Chris Mitchell, director of corporate banking at Isle of Man Bank.

After beating off competition to take first place, Ramsey Grammar School sixth former Stephen told Kate Holland it was an enjoyable race: