ABOUT 100 Santa Clauses, Captain America and Bananaman ran, jogged and walked through Henley to raise money for charity.

This year’s Santa on the Run event went ahead with a revised two-mile route after the Thames burst its banks but it still started and finished at the River and Rowing Museum.

The course went through Mill Meadows and the station car parks and once round the perimeter of the Invesco Perpetual offices.

A total of £500 was raised which will be split between the Mayor’s three charities, the Henley Youth Centre, the Over-60s club and Camp Mohawk, near Wargrave.

Standard health and fitness columnist Angie Best took the runners through a warm-up before the race while members of Henley Lions Club provided hot tomato soup and Tesco donated mince pies.

The race was won by Joe Southwell, 19, of Remenham Hill, who plays for Henley Rugby Club.

He said: “It was nice to win. It was a great run and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.”

Prizes were also awarded to the best-dressed family, team, adult and under 10 and to the fastest child under 14.

Stuart King, from Wargrave, was joined by friends and family, who had travelled from Bishop’s Stortford and Swindon. He said: “We did the Henley half marathon a while ago and the guys loved it so they came again for this. We all went out for lunch afterwards.”

The event was organised by town councillor Pam Phillips, who took part, and Deputy Mayor Stefan Gawrysiak, who led the group on his bicycle dressed as Santa Claus.

Cllr Phillips said: “We had almost three times more runners than last year. The atmosphere was excellent and people arrived and left with smiles on their faces.”

Last year’s event, in which 40 people took part, raised £300.

Published 11/12/12