Entrants of axed Great South Run take on own races

Runners from across the south still took part in 10-mile runs despite the Great South Run's cancellation

Great South Run entrants disappointed the event was axed at the last minute have taken on their own pop-up races.

Portsmouth's annual 10-mile event was supposed to take place on Sunday morning but organisers decided to cancel because of a forecast for rain and strong winds.

The 23,000 runners are able to roll over their entries into next year's event or claim a refund.

But some decided to brave the conditions and complete the route anyway.

Fundraisers still donned fancy dress for their pop-up races

Ken Ross, from the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, said the event was normally his charity's largest fundraiser of the year.

"When the news came through it was pretty devastating," he said.

"Within minutes of being told, different groups of runners started linking up to have a few pop-up runs around different parts of the south."

He said he hoped sponsors would still be willing to give donations even though his teams did not complete the official race.

Stephen Griffin took on his own race alongside his children in Winchester

Experienced runner Gill Shaw from Newport, Isle of Wight, who has run six marathons in the past, was due to take on Sunday's race but she thought it was sensible for it to be cancelled.

She described the weather as looking "absolutely awful".

Stephen Griffin and this two children Róisín and Samwere were due to run to raise money for Southampton Children’s Hospital’s cystic fibrosis unit.

"The three of us decided that we'd raised so much money that we needed to do something, so we had our alternative team Griffin Great South Run around Winchester yesterday morning." Mr Griffin said.

Sister and brother pairing Róisín and Samwere Griffin finished just ahead of their father

Róisín Griffin said: "It was disappointing that the actual race was cancelled but it was nice to be able to run all together when we did it."

Mr Griffin said he was "lagging behind" his children by the end but said "it was an absolute joy to see them running on so effortlessly in front of me, while I was panting behind".

Event organisers said it was a "massive blow" to have to cancel the race but the safety of participants, staff and volunteers was its priority

Next year’s Great South Run is scheduled to take place on 19 October.