The winners of this year’s Stansted 10k race were boyfriend and girlfriend Bryn Reynolds and Gabriel Carnwath, who both have family members in Henham.

Bryn finished the course in 37 minutes and 30 seconds and Gabriel in 43 minutes 10 seconds.

This year marked 30 years of the event, which raises money for the St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood.

On Sunday, July 17, there were 250 runners and the day made £5,500 for the charity.

It was Gabriel’s first time in the event but Bryn first ran it 20 years ago, aged eight. That year he clocked a time of one hour, one minute and 42 seconds in pouring rain. He says he still has the T-shirt.

As a member of Saffron Striders, he then went on to win the under-12 and under-16 categories over the years and to win a national running title. He was one of the team of 12 in the relay race called the National 12 Stage Road Relay. The runners are picked from clubs across the country. He was called up to replace Mo Farah when Mo was called away to compete in the European championships.

Bryn and Gabriel, who met at a London running club, are now both preparing for the Berlin marathon on September 25.

Bryn said: “It was a great race and it meant a lot to me to finally win it after 20 years – and for my girlfriend to win the ladies’ race.”

Bryn, 28, who works as a tax advisor for the accountants Ernst and Young, trains by running 20k each day. He lives in Battersea and runs to work at London Bridge and home again. Gabriel is a lawyer.

The race began at Bentfield Green, Stansted Mountfitchet, with runners including more than 40 children and parents who toddled, jogged and sprinted the one-mile family fun run around Bentfield Green.

The 10k race was started by Paralympic athlete Noel Thatcher, from Harlow, who also ran the one-mile race with his children, won by Fletcher Bushnell , from Stansted, aged nine.

St Clare community fundraiser Sue Fishpool said: “It was a fantastic day and we owe a huge debt to all the volunteers and supporters who made it such a success. Special thanks to our main event sponsors, David Lee Estate Agents, who also entered runners and the Rose and Crown who hosted fantastic catering. Also Heckford Norton and Lever who sponsored the trophies and medals, Anna Scanlan, who led the race warm-ups, and SV Sports Therapy for post-race massages.”

“The event had a fantastic atmosphere as was noted by a number of participants.”