A TORY councillor has won a popular amateur race in a course record time.

Councillor Robert Nemeth, who represents Wish ward on Brighton and Hove City Council, is a keen runner.

He took just 18 minutes 45 seconds to complete the 5km Toronto Parkrun while in Canada for a friend’s wedding earlier this month.

Most amateur runners would consider a 30-minute 5k time to be respectable and 25 minutes an impressive effort.

The current world record for the 5,000m is held by Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, who took just 14 minutes 11 seconds to win at the World Championships in Oslo in June 2008.

Cllr Nemeth, 37, said: “I think it might be the first time a UK elected representative has won one.

“Parkrun started in England so all our records are way lower.

“The Hove record is held by a Team GB athlete I think. So I think I might be the first.

“I hugely enjoy taking part in our local Parkrun events in Hove Park and on Hove Promenade so decided to see what the event in Toronto was like when visiting friends there.

“I certainly hadn’t expected to come first.

“It was a lovely course and the volunteers were great as always.

“My time wouldn’t be quick enough to get first in Hove, which has two quite large events, but it wouldn’t have been far off.”

The councillor, who is his party’s spokesman on sporting matters on the council, took up running as a hobby two years ago.

It came after he helped traders and police apprehend a pair of criminals who had stolen a necklace from a jeweller in George Street in Hove.

He chased the criminals for more than an hour.

His party leader Tony Janio said: “He’s hardly the stereotypical picture of a Tory councillor.

“But then, we’re a very progressive bunch, not like you would necessarily find elsewhere.

“Rob is a massive fitness fan and he drives the group mad, constantly suggesting sporting activities.

Parkrun 5km races take place every Saturday at 9am at 468 locations around the world.

Each one is free and organised by volunteers.

More than 1.4 million runners have taken part, with an average run time of 28:08.

To find out more go to www.parkrun.org.uk/brighton/.