Charlie and Will Knight approach the finish line. (Picture by Jos Knight)

THE 30th annual Herm Run went off without a glitch last weekend, despite a cold, drizzly start to the day.

The three-mile race begins at the harbour and follows the cliff paths to Belvoir. The route then goes past Shell Beach and over the common, finishing back at the harbour.

This year’s winner was a newcomer to the race – and to the island. Holidaymaker Ben Hunter decided to visit for the day and entered the run on a whim. He finished first in a very fast 16 min. 14 sec.

Second place went to last year’s winner, 14-year-old George Mason. The Grammar School pupil finished in 17 min. 50 sec., beating his own best by nine seconds.

His 11-year-old brother Edward wasn’t far behind, coming in fourth, making him the first under-12 boy.

Sister Eliza, eight, was the first under-12 girl in 25 min. 42 sec.

The first woman was another newcomer, Claire Simm, who marked her first time in the race with an impressive 21 min. 22 sec. The first female resident was Lesley Bailey, who, as the island’s foremost female runner, has won this award countless times. This year, her winning time was 25 min. 48 sec.

White House waiter Jakub Zajic was the first male resident in 19 minutes. According to manager Sion Jones, who was minutes behind him, Jakub races around the tables just as quickly.

Sion also commented how nice it was, on a small island with two pubs, to have staff who spend their time off doing something as productive as running.

First under-16 girl was Maya McCulloch, who despite being sidelined by a massive blister and not actually finishing the race, was the only under-16 girl and so won by default.

The race brought out some friendly rivalry among the younger Herm residents. The special under-11 resident trophy was up for grabs. With two-time winner Charlie Knight now out of the age group, it was won by 10-year-old Taigh Watson, whose time of 32 min. 49 sec. beat six-year-old Ryan Jones’s by three seconds.

The aforementioned Charlie had a little rivalry of his own going on. He and brother Will were neck and neck throughout the entire course, rounding the last corner together.

As they crossed the finish line, Charlie pipped Will to the post by just a second. They finished in a speedy 28 min. 32 sec. and 28 min. 33 sec. respectively.

The money raised is for ambulance launch the Flying Christine.