It was a case of London calling in the 30th anniversary edition of the Riverside 10k last Sunday.

Almost 550 competitors took the streets of St Neots for the annual event and Nick Shasha of capital club, Orion Harriers, took victory.

Shasha completed the course in a time of 34.54 to finish 19 seconds clear of closest challenger Mark Barry, of Hunts AC.

Basildon AC man Steven Strange took third spot in 35.37 with Gary Evans the leading man from host club Riverside Runners in fifth (37.17).

Maurice Hemmingway proved a home success for Riverside when taking the M60 age group prize in 44.59

Riverside chairman Sam Windebank said: “It was a great team effort from club members, their friends and families, and the 1st St Neots Scout Group, who all volunteered to help make the event as well organised as possible.

“The race is our main charity fund-raiser of the year with the profits being split between MIND and the Lewis Stroke & Rehabilitation Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

“Further funds were also raised for the scout group and Papworth Hospital Charity, and we are thankful to Tesco (St Neots) for their sponsorship.”

The race was started by seven year-old Benjamin Beaumont, whose uncle Darren Woodward is a Riverside member.

Benjamin was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a form of cancer which attacks blood cells - at the age of five. He required eight months of treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in which he underwent around 40 blood transfusions.

Beaumont was the inspiration for a unique ‘100 & Run Blood Donations’ fundraising drive recently undertaken by Woodward, in which he called for people to give blood rather than donate financially.

Woodward aimed to complete more than 100km of running during a 24-hour race (he managed 120km) while gaining more 100 blood donors (a tally he also managed).

Another 130 runners took part in the Riverside 2k fun run, which was won by Huntingdon BRJ youngster Reece Millard.

He came home in 6.57 – seven seconds clear of runner-up Joe Wilson, of the host club.

BRJ’s Ellie Loosley was third overall and the first female finisher in 7.29. Scarlet Dalrymple (7.41) and Hannah Williams (7.49) – both of Riverside – were the second and third girls respectively to cross the line.

Riverside Runners results from 10k race: 5 Gary Evans 37.17, 21 Piers Sergeant 40.34, 30 Dominic Wilson 41.55, 36 Michael Ball 42.17, 42 Steve Fleming 42.54, 43 Paul Ridley 43.33, 44 Chris Hull 43.35, 52 Gavin Osborn 44.09, 60 Kevin Steel 45.21, 64 Ryan Lydon 45.44, 99 Neil Bing 48.21, 104 Andrew Pateman 48.49, 123 Emma Evans 50.34, 136 Jim Robertson 50.41, 144 Gary Durrant 50.51, 145 Maisie Pritchard 50.54, 157 John Farnham 51.24, 180 Colm Crowley 52.22, 189 Jeremy Hill 52.42, 199 Peter Dowling 53.07, 212 Chris Bentley 53.30, 223 Niki Sergeant 54.19, 244 Vince Hainsby 55.12, 257 Lauren Andrews 55.48, 264 Jenny Wascak 55.58, 269 Sharon Evans 56.19, 271 Tony McClure 26.28, 282 Catherine Wenban 57.00, 322 Andy Neeves 58.49, 335 Elliott Barnes 59.21, 337 Chris Elt 59.24, 343 Hazel Ferreira 59.38, 351 Selcan Rowles 1:00.12, 366 Daniel Court 1:01.01, 374 Kirsty Middleton 1:01.16, 401 Samantha Dye 1:02.54, 404 Jo Vivash 1:03.11, 406 Hayley Williams 1:03.15, 409 Rebecca Styne 1:03.26, 426 Kim Bell 1:04.39, 430 Lynne Kidd 1:05.35, 436 Ruth Hawley 1:05.35, 453 Jane Munday 1:06.59, 454 Janice Bruce 1:06.39, 458 Chris Walkington 1:07.32, 468 Patrycja Falak 1:08.05, 469 Kim Ludlow 1:08.15, 474 Lesley Parker 1:09.13, 476 Jackie Mulcahy 1:09.17, 477 Vicki Mills 1:09.18, 510 Kerry Harbord 1:14.01, 523 Charlotte Metherell 1:17.05, 524 Carol Metherell 1:17.17, 533 Jack Rivers 1:19.49, 539 Tara Berry 1:20.45.