A leisurely stroll along Brighton’s seafront was not what more than 300 athletes had in mind when they took part in Brighton’s Athletics and Triathlon Club’s inaugural 10K race on Wednesday evening.

Brighton’s Phoenix club sold a record of 450 entries and the excellent conditions of overcast but dry weather helped the competitors as they ran from Hove’s Lawns to Shoreham Harbour’s Carrot’s Cafe and back again.

Dean Lacey, of Cambridge Harriers, won the race in 30 minutes and 24 seconds with a final sprint to keep three seconds ahead of Phoenix’s own athlete Ian Leitch.

Lizzy Brama, a marshal for the race, said: “It was the best finish I’ve seen in a long time with Dean only narrowly beating Ian.”