RUNNERS, including a man who had postponed his honeymoon to take part, crossed the finish line of a pub race looking distinctly queasy.

Newly-married Russell Hobbs was among 33 runners who took part in yesterday’s 53rd Wanborough Beer Race, which takes them round pubs in the village.

Participants must drink a half pint at each one and the fastest to get round wins.

Each year the race, which started as a dare between friends, starts at a different venue.

First place went to Matt Owen, for the Black Horse pub, in a time of 16 minutes 32 seconds, second to Ashley Smith, for the Black Horse, in 17 minutes 23 seconds and third to Sean Noakes, for the Brewers Arms, in 18 minutes 8 seconds.

Matt, 22, of Magdalen Road, Wanborough, who has done it several times before, said: “I’m not feeling too bad, it’s not the running, it’s running with the beer inside you – it’s hideous.

“You sort of forget how bad it is until you do it again.”

This year’s event went from the New Calley Arms, in Upper Wanborough, to the Black Horse, The Plough, The Harrow Inn, Brewers Arms, Cross Keys and up the punishing Kite Hill back to the New Calley Arms.

Runners were signed up to a particular pub, whose staff and supporters then cheered on their own team members.

Russell and friends Clarke Kent, Rodney Smith and Al Green, all from Wanborough, were dressed in a bridal theme.

Russell, 32, dressed as a groom, only got married to wife Hannah on Saturday, but was determined to continue a 20-year tradition.

He said: “We run it every year, we normally do fancy dress.

“I was supposed to go on honeymoon today and I actually persuaded her somehow to postpone so I could run a beer race.”

Rodney, whose seven-month-old son Woody watched the race, joked: “We felt we had to give people a chance.” Daniel Grimmitt, 21, had come from Morecambe to compete as his girlfriend’s aunt owns The Plough.

He said: “I love beer and I thought I was fit.

“It was hard, very hard, the worst thing I have ever done in my life.

“Once I saw the finish line I started sprinting somehow.

“In half an hour I’ll think it was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

The only woman to compete, Elaine Widdowson 43, from Old Town, and barmaid at The Plough, said: “It was very hard this year with the hill, it was fun and it’s a nice village thing.”