Stamford Striders stage popular St Valentine's 30k race at Welland Academy

Prolific race winner Aaron Scott will be aiming to regain his St Valentine’s 30k crown in Stamford Striders’ showpiece event on Sunday.

The five-times winner was away on honeymoon last year as Huntingdon BRJ Run and Tri athlete David Hudson took top spot ahead of Scott’s Helpston Harriers team-mates Michael Channing and Josh Lunn.

But Scott - who holds the course record after posting a time of 1hr 37mins 52secs in 2014 - is among the entries for this year’s sell-out race which starts at 11am at Welland Academy in Stamford.

The event is Striders’ 27th staging of the popular race which winds its way through Little Casterton, Tolethorpe, Ryhall, Careby, Pickworth and Great Casterton before finishing at Welland Academy.

Race director Mark Alderson is hoping for another action-packed event which was filled to capacity shortly after the entries opened this year.

Alderson said: “This will be our 27th running of the popular 30k and we are looking forward to making it as enjoyable as previous years – if not, even more so.

“This year we opened our online entry system on Monday, October 28, and the race was full by the Tuesday afternoon.

“It is our flagship event and is recognised nationally as a tough race, providing a good training run for those planning a spring marathon.

“It’s famous for enthusiastic marshals and efficient organisation across the board.

“This is a runners’ race, organised for runners by runners – we know what they want and how they want it.”

Besides the normal prizes for first and second place, there are also accolades for age and team categories and £100 for beating course records.

Male veteran 35, female veteran 70 and female veteran 75 have also been added to the prize and record categories. Both male and female team prizes will include the best three combined times for each prize.