It was a race to the finish

Port Elgin’s Nicole Hunter (95), Sophie Hotchkiss (88) and Anna McLaughlin (63) of Kincardine ran a great 10k race, during the 28th Huron Shore Run, in Southampton, June 4.

Editor's Note: Organizers of the Run said they raised approximately $50,000 at their June 4 event. Funds raised will go towards Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, local Rotary projects and Saugeen Track Club.

Hub Staff

The feet of over 720 runners passed through the starting gates of the 28th Annual Rotary Huron Shore Run on June 4. The annual run saw returning racers from across Ontario retain their title from 2015, with many local competitors showing spectators and other participants how it’s done.

Returning 2015 Half Marathon winner Mitchell Belford, age 24 from Wasaga Beach, held his title as champ with a time of 01:16:54.1. Second place went to Joseph Fonseca of Seaforth with 01:19:58.6 and Port Elgin’s very own Chris Vallieres placed third with 01:27:45.1. The Huron Shore Run was a shorter race for Vallieres who competed in the Boston Marathon in April with a time of 3 hours and 18 minutes.

Race winner Belford, while only slightly winded, said that the Rotary Huron Shore Run was his third race this season, that he enjoys it, and will definitely be back.

“I love this course, running around the water is beautiful and makes for a great morning and great weekend,” Belford said, adding that it was another great turnout this year.

Anastasia Hardwick of Tiverton led the women’s category of the Half Marathon with a time of 01:34:55.4 while Port Elgin’s Joan Matthews placed third with a time of 1:40:52.4.

Other leading times went to Port Elgin’s RJ Ross, age 37, who placed first in the 5k race with a time of 00:16:45 while Matt Barfoot, age 36, came in third in the 10k at 00:39:42.

The 14 and under 3k race saw the most locals in the top 10, with last year’s race leader, seasonal Southampton resident William Weist of Ajax, grabbing the top spot again, with 00:11:59. Second went to Riley Jacobs-Gamble of Owen Sound and third to Zoe Shave of Southampton with 00:13:29.8.

Shave, a Huron Shore Run veteran and a student at G.C. Huston, said she accomplished what she wanted to this year and was happy with her time.

“I’ve done it for four or maybe five years now. I really like it because I know the route and the lake’s right there,” said Shave. “You get a nice breeze and you can go jump in afterwards, that’s what I usually do.

Rotary Huron Shore Run organizer John Van Bastelaar said the weather for the race was great and the numbers of runners were similar to 2015.

“It’s great to see the community come together for a worthy cause,” Van Bastelaar said, referring to the money raised which will go towards the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation. He added that his favourite memory from this year’s event was before the start of the 10k race when Saugeen First Nation dancers performed.

Members of the Saugeen First Nation performed a traditional dance on Southampton’s High Street before the 10k race began, June 4 at the Rotary Huron Shore Run.