HIGH profile stars as rich and varied as Batman and Hilda Ogden lent their support to Wanborough’s Beer Race after fears this year could have been the end of the 60-year tradition.

Almost 50 runners took on the whistle-stop tour of five pubs, along a two-mile stretch of the village, sinking half a pint of ale at each filling station.

Invigilators were on hand at each pub to make sure there was no cheating, before the runners returned full circle to the Cross Keys pub.

Chain-smoking Corrie star Hilda, aka 62-year-old Sue Jones, said she was spurred on to enter the race having watched from the sidelines all her life.

“I watched the race since I was a child, and thought it was about time that I get in it myself,” she said.

“A lot of people have worked so hard to keep it going, and we should do our bit.

“The three people who organised it have done sterling work to keep it running for all these years, and we owe it to them.”

Gary Chapman, 49, wound down from the Swindon Half Marathon last year to compete in his tenth beer race.

“I’m a runner anyway, and do half marathons and full marathons,” he said.

“This is a very unique race, and it’s just a bit of fun.

“I do my training around here from where I live in Nythe, so I run Wanborough regularly.”

And 25-year-old Sotiris Karfakis came to Wanborough from his native Lefkada, in Greece, five months ago.

“We don’t have anything like a beer race in Greece, but we do a lot of other races gathering money for charities,” he said.

“I heard about this race, and it will be my first time running with beer, so that is quite strange.

“It is such a tradition, it would be a shame to stop it, and why should you stop something that has been going on for years?

“People get together at races like this and it becomes even bigger. It gives me a chance to learn about Wanborough, and the whole village comes out today.”

The race was first set up in the 1950s by Michael Janner after a bet with friends, and has grown ever since.

Following recent changes in licensing laws, there was concern the event might be stopped by the authorities, but keen runners Michael Kent and Colin Blackwell have taken over this year.

“Colin and I have run it 20 times or more, and we stepped in this year to ensure it keeps going,” said Michael.

“There were concerns due to licensing law changes this might be affected, but we got some clarification after speaking to the licensing authority.

“It’s thanks to Michael, his wife Pat, and June Law, that the race has continued this long. It’s the 60th anniversary next year, so hopefully we will be having a good celebration for that.”

This Is Wiltshire:

  • Elliot Hill downs his last beer at The Brewers Arms. Picture by Vicky Scipio