RUNNERS from across the UK descended on Blenheim Palace to take part in a charity 7k run.

The event raised about £2,500 for St Peter’s Primary School, Cassington, and Woodstock Youth Centre.

About 600 racers took part in the event, which included the 7k adult race and a one mile event for under 15s.

The men’s winner, Steven Naylor, from Woodstock, broke the course record of 24m 08s – set in 2008 – with a time of 21m 54s.

Mr Naylor works at Blenheim Palace and trains in the grounds. In March, he ran for England at a cross country event in Ireland.

The 32-year-old said: “I appreciate any achievement I make. You don’t take it for granted, you earn every step of it – running’s not easy.”

He added: “Blenheim’s a fantastic course – it’s almost like it is purpose built for running.”

The women’s winner was Sarah Quantrill, from Slough.

The event was kicked off by street dancers Unleashed, who performed their award-winning routine. The Cassington-based dancers are from dance class Step 2, and their teacher, Nadia Pharaon, led all the runners in a fitness session.

The race kicked off at 11am on Sunday, with the course running through the pleasure gardens, around the palace and past the stately home’s lake.

Race organiser Sarah Airey said: “It went really well. All the feedback is always really positive and everyone had a good day.

“It started to rain just before they started but it cleared up just in the nick of time.”

The yearly event started in 2002 as a small PTA-organised run to raise cash for St Peter’s Primary School.

Mrs Airey said: “Gradually the run got bigger and bigger.

“Now it’s a proper run and part of the running calendar in the county, if not further afield.”