TRIUMPHANT Wallasey Athletic club enjoyed a double victory in Port Sunlight on Father's Day, scooping first place in both the men's 5k and 10k races.

But it was a different story in the women's field, with both distances won by Edge Hill University-based Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers, as 1,778 runners competed over the two distances – some entering both.

Wallasey's Joseph Boden picked up a win in the 5k with a rapid time of 15m 27sec as Helen Sahgal clocked 19m 09sec to clinch the women's race.

Eleanor Jones romped to victory in the women’s 10k in a blistering 36m 53sec, a result that was only bettered by six men in the whole field.

Jay Walker held off Liverpool Running Club’s Jamie Rutherford to clinch the men's 10k in 33m 46sec, with the latter eventually finishing three seconds back.

Speaking to the Globe after the race, Walker said: "I'm tired but I'm really happy with it.

"I finished third here last year with a PB (personal best) of 35m 10sec, this year I've done 36:46. I don't know where it came from to be honest!

"I always struggle (here) because of the amount of twists and turns that there are, but it’s obviously a course that works for me. I was training for the London Marathon this year so I think everything that I put into that has paid dividends here."

When asked what tips he could offer to anyone else who wanted to win a race, Walker revealed that his girlfriend has booked a day for the pair of them to walk an Alpaca, quipping: "I'm not particularly keen on the idea, it would probably beat me outright in a race!"

With the weather for once holding firm in picturesque Port Sunlight village, the race meeting was enjoyed by both competitors and spectators alike.

That extended to 10k victor Eleanor Jones, who was competing here for the first time.

The 28-year-old told the Globe: "It's good, it's quite misleading though as there's quite a few loops and you think it’s coming to the end but it’s a lovely village.

"I've won Liverpool spring 5k and came second in the Liverpool half marathon.

"This is the first 10k I’ve won. I’m ready for a gin and tonic now!"

Kids were also able to enjoy a taste of the action, with about 100 participating in a 1k fun run after the main races.

The eighth annual event was organised and delivered by BTR Liverpool, in conjunction with Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT), with Unilever lending its support as headline sponsor for the sixth consecutive year.

127 Unilever employees participated and director Cameron Jones presented the successful 10k race competitors with their prizes.

He said: "Wellness, physical wealth, mental health it’s all very important. In running, we do a couch to 5k.

"We encourage people to do it and its fantastic to see such a great turnout."

Race organiser Alan Rothwell has been putting on running events since 1994 – voluntarily for the first 10 years – and describes his job as a busman's holiday.

He said: "It's a great environment, Port Sunlight, because it’s family orientated.

"It's not about time-pace-time-pace. The kids love it with the fun run and we’ve had a really good turnout in the 10k and the 5k.

"We were a couple of hundred up on last year, so I think it speaks for itself.

"Running is like a lifestyle issue now. Many years ago, only strange people ran in the dead of night.

"Now it's not just dad going out to race. The whole family gets involved, which is absolutely brilliant."

Speaking about the 1k fun run, he added: "The kid's explosion! They go off like rockets and they can't wait.

"They're full of fun and enthusiasm.

"It's a great way to get them exposed to activity and to running in a non-competitive environment.

"If we can help develop a couple of those kids in future years to be good quality runners then that's a fantastic legacy."

Full classified race results can be found by visiting

www.tdleventservices.co.uk

and searching for Port Sunlight 5k and 10k 2019.