DOZENS of men and women took part in the annual Wanborough Beer Race on a sunny bank holiday Monday. 

The event has been an annual tradition in the village just outside Swindon for decades and it celebrated its 69th year of being held. 

Participants run, jog or stroll through the village in a race against each other.

But there's a unique twist as they would also have to pay a visit to each of the village's five pubs and quickly drink half a pint before moving on to the next stop. 

This year's race started at the New Calley Arms at 12.30am and family, friends and villagers gathered in large numbers to see the 55 runners set off after drinking their first half. 

The route would take them to a 'pop up' set up by local organisation the Wanborough Old Boilers area outside the closed Cross Keys, and onto the High Street where the Plough, Harrow and Brewers Arms pubs are. 

Incredibly, despite the many hills of Wanborough, the hot weather and having to drink almost three pints in a short amount of time, the first runner, Elliot Hall, finished the race at the finish line back at the New Calley Arms in 13:35

He was followed by Ben Skinner who finished in 14:04 and coming in third was Michael Passmore with a time of 14:15.

The first woman to finish was Hege Scott at 16:29, with Sarah Chew (17:53) and Rachel Bendell (19:39) second and third. 

Once all of the runners were back at the New Calley Arms, there was pizza, pub grub and live music for people to enjoy. 

Swindon Advertiser: The beer race winners Elliot Hill and Hege Scott with New Calley Arms landlord Jon Beeden, who also took partThe beer race winners Elliot Hill and Hege Scott with New Calley Arms landlord Jon Beeden, who also took part (Image: John Henshall)

A spokesperson for the local pub said: "Thank you to everyone that has supported this event and congratulations to all the runners and especially the winners."

Organiser Mike Kent, also thanked the public for coming out to support the runners 

"The sun shone and the crowds came out in force to line the streets & cheer on the runners," he said. 

"A big thanks to everyone who helped with this year's event, especially everyone at the Calley Arms, The Plough, The Harrow & Brewers Arms!"

The annual tradition was forced to pause during the pandemic, taking three years out from 2019 to 2021, but it returned last year in conjunction with the Queen's Jubilee.

Last year's race also paid tribute to its founder Mike Jenner, who had died the year before.