Thousands of people took part in and watched today's Newport Half Marathon. CARYS THOMAS, ALISTAIR CORLESS and PHILIP MCELENEY report.

THE new route for this year's Newport half marathon has proved popular with runners.

There were around 1,842 runners competing in yesterday's Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon which started in the city centre for the first time. Runners lined the starting point on the High Street where Darren Campbell, Olympic gold medallist launched the race.

The 13.1 mile route went along the River Usk to Caerleon before finishing at the University of South Wales’ city campus on Usk Way. Crowds gathered to cheer on the runners along the route including Kim Bonnett, of Old Hall Close in Duffryn, who was supporting her husband Michael Bonnett, 58, and daughter Stacey Owen, 32.

Mr Bonnett is one of 100 runners from the Lliswerry Runners who took part in the Argus-backed half marathon.

Mrs Bonnet said: "I think it's a really lovely event and well organised. My daughter hasn't been able to do as much training as she injured her leg in a car accident in December when someone shunted the back of her car.

"She is ex-military and was in the Air Corps -she is very determined and said wanted to do it.”

This year’s quickest runner was Harry Jones who ran the route in 1 hour and 11 minutes and the fastest woman was Emma Wookey of Lliswerry Runners who ran it in 1 hour and 16 minutes.

Kathryn Hourihane, 41, and her husband Chris, 42, from Church Road in Caldicot, ran with their friend Julia Tapp, 43, a business support officer at Newport City Council.

This was Mrs Hourihane’s second Newport half marathon. She said: "The crowds were great and the Rock Choir were singing on the entry into Caerleon which was great for moral support."

Ms Tapp has raised £370 for the St Michael's Hospice in Hereford.

She said: "They were incredibly supportive to my cousin who sadly died last year. It started out as cervical cancer –she was 54-years-old.

"The money will go towards a unit at the hospital for family and friends to stay. The staff were fabulous there.”

She added: “It was my first half marathon today. The last four miles were the hardest but I had to keep going."

Kay Morgan, 37, of Ladyhill Close, Usk, was one of 44 runners from the Pontypool and District Runners who competed in yesterday’s half marathon.

She said: "I've ran it every year in Newport. It was a much better course this year.

"The route change allowed more people to come out and show their support along the route. It was very well organised - I think Christine has done a fab job."

The Clytha Primary School teacher will be running this year's London Marathon in April for the Girlguiding.

The race in aid of St David’s Hospice Care has risen thousands in the past three years and organisers hope to keep expanding the event.

Christine Vorres, events director of St David's Hospice Care, said: "It has been a fantastic race – it has completely exceeded expectations.

"We are trying to make the best of the key features in Newport to make it a true city half marathon.”

The Argus team running consisted of Martin Wade, John Phillips, Nathan Briant and Ruth Mansfield. Mr Wade, digital editor, had the fastest time of 1 hour 25 minutes.

John Griffiths AM for Newport East said: "It was a great atmosphere. It's great to see so many people taking part - fitness and being healthy is so important.

“There were people from all over the country - it was absolutely brilliant to see people coming to Newport. I saw people staying at local hotels which is a boost to the local economy."

He added: “St David's Hospice Care are going to keep building this year on year - it's brilliant for Newport.”

Some runners tweeted their race measurement devices had recorded shorter than the half marathon mark. But Ms Vorres  said: “We have had the course officially measured and have a certificate. There are guidelines on GPS measurements - tall buildings in Newport could stop picking up signals or signals sometimes lost measurement in the three times that they’ve gone under the motorway as a possible explanation.”