THE annual MBNA Chester 10K race returns for its sixth consecutive year this Sunday (March 12).

Organisers are thrilled the race has been rated best on the North West by the prestigious Runners World magazine, as well as picking up a Gold in the Race Check awards recently.

Joint race organiser Chris Hulse of Active Leisure Ltd said: “It proves we must be doing something right, and explains why we always fill the race.

“It’s always good to have your best efforts acknowledged by your peers. We are never complacent however and continue to strive to give the runners a great race day experience.”

Runners participating will again be treated to Chester Racecourse as the race HQ. The organisers are again splitting the field of 3,000 runners into two waves, starting at 9am and 9.30 respectively, with the 10km (6.2-mile) road race taking runners out into the countryside to Mollington where they will loop around the village before returning to the city.

Chris added: “Routing the course down past the Town Hall and Cathedral has been a big hit with the runners and spectators, with Eastgate Street overlooked by the iconic Eastgate Clock providing a perfect setting for the finish.

“We are on the countdown to Sunday and are anticipating a humdinger of a race at the sharp end with some seriously good athletes going head to head. So there is a fair chance the race records for men and women will tumble!”

However, the organisers never lose sight of the fact that the vast majority participating in the race will be club and fun runners with increasing numbers of people taking up running through Couch to 5K and the Parkruns.

Once ready they want to experience the full atmosphere of a city-based event and Chester is the ideal venue.

Joint race organiser Andy White said: “It is expected that the fastest runners will be flying down Northgate Street at around 9.30am, and we expect plenty of spectators will turn out to support them and enjoy the sporting action.”

Many of the runners tackling the course will be using it as preparation for the Essar Chester 2023 Half Marathon being held on Sunday, May 21. Places are filling fast for this classic half marathon which also sells out every year.

Hope House Hospice is the official event charity for the 10K and Chester-based Active Leisure Events expect their three races this year to raise £1 million overall for local and national causes.

Here are the main road closures for the event this Sunday:

  • Closed 4am-2pm: Nuns Road, Black Friars
  • Closed 5.30am-1.30pm: Watergate street, Bridge Street, Eastgate Street, St Werburgh's Street, Northgate Street (between Chester Cross and Chester Town Hall)
  • Delays 8.45am-10am: Sealand Road (between Stadium Way and Tower Road), New Crane Street.
  • Closed 8.15am-10am: Stadium Way.
  • Closed 8.15am-11.30am: Saughall Road (between A5480 and Cheyney Road), Cheyney Road, Parkgate Road (between Mollington and Aldi Roundabout)
  • Closed 8.30am-11.30am: Garden Lane, Raymond Street, Canal Street, Bouverie Street, Walpole Street.
  • Closed 8.45am-11.30am: A5480 (between Saughall Road and Aldi Roundabout), Parkgate Road (between Aldi Roundabout and Cheyney Road), Mollington, Townfield Lane.
  • Closed 9am-noon: Northgate Street (between Canal Street and Chester Town Hall).

For more information on the MBNA Chester 10k, the Essar Chester 2023 Half Marathon and the MBNA Chester Marathon, visit www.activeleisureevents.co.uk.