Preparations are under way for this year’s Alton 10 race, which takes place on Sunday, May 12.

The event, which is organised by the Alton Runners and the Alton Lions Club, is once again included in the Hampshire Road Race League.

The Alton 10 is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, as the first race was held on Sunday, April 1, 1984 - in a snowstorm.

About 500 runners entered in the first year and since then the number of entrants has fluctuated between 500 and 750.

The 2023 event took place on a hot sunny day in May and was won by Harry Smith of City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club. The women’s race was won by Tamsin Anderson of Winchester and District Athletics Club.

The event is however not just an athletics race, it is also a community event. All of the course marshals are provided by Alton Lions Club, and the three water stations are manned by the 3rd Alton Scouts, the 8th Alton Scouts and the Boys Brigade.

Medical and first aid support will again be provided by Collingwood Medical Services. Race headquarters is at its usual place in Eggar’s School and the race starts at Holybourne Cricket Club. It will be started by Alton deputy mayor Cllr Annette Eyre.

The runners will head up from Holybourne to Binsted and complete a circuit of undulating countryside and picturesque Hampshire village lanes to finish back at the school. Undulating is runner’s code for hilly, as the route has more than 600 feet of climbing.

Race director Ollie Steele-Perkins said that he is looking forward to this year’s event, which is a culmination of months of organisation, and he thanked former race director Philip Scrase for his help in getting the event off the ground.

Alton Runners is a friendly, social club welcoming people of all running abilities. Anyone who would like to find out more about the club and ways to get involved, or who would like to know more about the Alton 10 and how to enter, should visit the Alton Runners website www.altonrunners.co.uk.10