A field of 266 Father Christmases and other festive characters dashed around the streets of Douglas in the annual Santa Dash on Wednesday lunchtime.

Covering a distance of a little under one mile, plenty of fun was had in dry conditions and, even more importantly, huge sums of money will have been raised for many charities chosen by the runners.

Of course, competitive instincts always kick in among regular athletes and Jordan Cain won the event for the first time in four minutes and 38 seconds.

Jordan Cain crosses the finish line on Finch Road to win the Santa Dash for the first time in four minutes and 38 seconds (Photo: Dave Norton)
Jordan Cain crosses the finish line on Finch Road to win the Santa Dash for the first time in four minutes and 38 seconds (Photo: Dave Norton) (Dave Norton)

Second was Oliver Chambers some 13 seconds adrift, with third going to seasoned athlete Neil Brogan a further 7s back.

Oliver Chambers finished second in a time of four minutes and 51 seconds (Photo: Dave Norton)
Oliver Chambers finished second in a time of four minutes and 51 seconds (Photo: Dave Norton) (Dave Norton)

Fourth place went to Sam Robertshaw in a time of 5m10s, the same as fifth-placed Gianni Epifani ahead of Andrew Marshall in sixth on 5.11.

There was a good turnout of spectators for Wednesday's Santa Dash, in which Sam Robertshaw (No.338) pipped Gianni Epifani (No.136) and Andrew Marshall (No.256) for fourth place (Photo: Dave Norton)
There was a good turnout of spectators for Wednesday's Santa Dash, in which Sam Robertshaw (No.338) pipped Gianni Epifani (No.136) and Andrew Marshall (No.256) for fourth place (Photo: Dave Norton) (Dave Norton)

The leading Madam Santa was Jess Bryan for the second time in eighth place overall in a time of 5.15, six seconds faster than when she won in 2022.

Second was Kirsty Barber, third was footballer Holly Sumner and fourth was Commonwealth Games swimmer Laura Kinley who showed that she is quick on two legs as well.

Fifth was Ellen Robinson and rounding out the top six women was Emily Bridson.

DAVID GRIFFITHS

Island footballer Holly Sumner (No.366) pipped Isle of Man swimmer Laura Kinley for third place on the women's podium (Photo: Dave Norton)
Island footballer Holly Sumner (No.366) pipped Isle of Man swimmer Laura Kinley for third place on the women's podium (Photo: Dave Norton) (Dave Norton)

There was certainly no shortage of fancy dress on show in the Santa Dash, including Colin Peters dressed as the Grinch! (Photo: Dave Norton)
There was certainly no shortage of fancy dress on show in the Santa Dash, including Colin Peters dressed as the Grinch! (Photo: Dave Norton) (Dave Norton)

Results: 1, Jordan Cain 4m38; 2, Oliver Chambers 4.51; 3, Neil Brogan 4.58; 4, Samuel Robertshaw 5.10; 5, Gianni Epifani 5.10; 6, Andrew Marshall 5.11; 7, Andy McKnight 5.12; 8, Jessica Bryan 5.15; 9, Philip Caine 5.18; 10, Rob Monk 5.20; 11, Alan Sandford 5.21; 12, Alan Gelling 5.25; 13, Ryan Cain 5.26; 14, Chris Blackburn 5.27; 15, Kirsty Barber 5.31; 16, Peter Callin 5.32; 17, Max Edwards 5.36; 18, Josh Green 5.36; 19, Ben Lees 5.41; 20, Holly Sumner 5.46; 21, Laura Kinley 5.47; 22, Paul McGilvray 5.48; 23, Tom Dutnall 5.48; 24, Ethan Quirk 5.49; 25, Chris Addy 5.50; 26, Tom Randall 5.51; 27, Tom Roberts 5.53; 28, Miguel Costa 5.55; 29, Stephen Oates 5.56; 30, Antony Boyd 5.56; 31, Adrian Skinner 5.59; 32, Jonathan Rudge 6.00; 32, Shaun Wyllie 6.00; 34, Josh Knights 6.01; 35, Ellen Robinson 6.03; 36, Corrie Brogan 6.04; 37, Emily Bridson 6.05; 38, Juan Kinley 6.05; 38, Josh Papworth 6.05; 40, James Brew 6.06; 40, Henry Quaye 6.06; 42, Richard Allen 6.06; 43, Hollie Quaye 6.08; 44, Ben Rawstron 6.09; 45, James Gumbley 6.09; 46, Sam Bowers 6.09; 47, Sean Gavin 6.10; 48, Laura Dickinson 6.11; 48, Paul Perkins 6.11; 50, Emma Leith 6.12; 51, Holly Burgess 6.12; 52, Patrick Butterworth 6.17; 53, Rebekah Noon 6.20; 54, David Hathaway 6.22; 55, Rhodes Brown 6.24; 56, Gideon Nzioka 6.27; 57, Matthew Gold 6.28; 58, Jake Kelly 6.29; 59, Chris Long 6.32; 60, Clive Dugdale 6.33; 61, Edward Graham 6.37; 62, Charles Simuchimba 6.39; 63, Eliza Rayner 6.40; 64, Laura Dalton 6.40; 65, Andy Bass 6.41; 66, Mark Gleave 6.42; 67, Andy Baxendale 6.45; 68, Michelle Gage 6.46; 69, Carol Brogan 6.46; 70, Ryan Smith 6.47; 71, Courtney Corrie 6.50; 72, Matt Davies 6.50; 73, Jayne Farquhar 6.51; 74, Alice Hemensley 6.52; 74, Adam Williams 6.52; 76, Ayrton Withington 6.53; 77, Paul Thomas 6.54; 78, Sharon Shimmin 6.54; 79, Richard Parslow 6.56; 80, Lyndon Powell 6.56; 81, Mike Davies 6.59; 82, Colette Kerruish 7.00; 3, Sarah Winrow 7.01; 84, Niamh Goddard 7.03; 85, Thomas Curphey 7.06; 86, Nathan Cardy 7.10; 87, Tom Moore 7.10; 88, Lorna Gleave 7.13; 89, Nigel Maddocks 7.13; 90, Juan Bellando 7.16; 91, Josh Dunbar 7.18; 92, Louise Hollings 7.19; 93, Jo Hamilton 7.20; 94, Stuart McLean 7.22; 95, Charlotte Hemensley 7.23; 96, Max Talavera 7.24; 97, Cheryle Birnie 7.24; 98, Ian Wiltshire 7.27; 99, Oliver Steriopulos 7.27; 100, Corey Macleod 7.30; 101, Lindsay Leece 7.32; 102, Hannah Taplin 7.34; 103, Melanie Hebden 7.38; 104, Marie Jackson 7.39; 105, Melanie Kermeen 7.43; 106, Dawn Bremner 7.44; 107, Ashley Whyte 7.44; 18, Trevor Roberts 7.45; 109, Andrew Martin 7.45; 110, Hollie Devlin 7.45; 111, Will Hassall 7.46; 112, Callum Craig 7.46; 113, James Bridson 7.47; 114, Kyle Stevenson 7.47; 115, Ruth Baxendale 7.48; 116, Christopher Stobart 7.49; 117, Callum Davies 7.50; 118, Danaa Callow 7.53; 119, Jamie Cullen 7.54; 120, Ian Manton 7.59; 121, Colin Peters 8.02; 122, Grainne Christian 8.02; 123, Ellen Fletcher 8.04; 124, Stanley Quaye 8.07; 125, Conor Esp 8.10; 126, Sean Quaye 8.10; 127, Jack Devereau 8.10; 128, Andres Centellas 8.11; 129, Vivienne Quaye 8.11; 130, Kelly Quaye 8.12; 131, Jason Cain 8.13; 132, Anthony Cross 8.13; 133, Max Byrne 8.17; 134, Dan Phair 8.18; 135, Joe Kissack 8.18; 136, Eleanor Blayney 8.19; 137, Charlotte Dougherty 8.22; 138, Sophie Faragher 8.22; 139, Rebecca Greatbatch 8.25; 140, David Caldwell 8.26; 141, Stephen Schuster 8.26; 142, Hannah Finch 8.28; 143, Dasa Brynjolffssen 8.29; 144, Janine Cubbon 8.29; 145, Rachel Clarke 8.29; 146, Steph Burrell 8.29; 146, Al Graham 8.29; 148, Nhlanhla Nzama 8.30; 149, Steph Chambers 8.30; 150, Sue Powell 8.30; 151, Stephen Barry 8.31; 152, Matthew Jones 8.33; 153, Sammy Hannay 8.34; 154, James Lees 8.34; 154, Lucy Wilson 8.34; 156, Cory Addy (2) 8.35; 157, Rob Huyton 8.35; 158, Kate Crellin 8.40; 159, Raj Nandha 8.41; 160, Rachel Kelly 8.41; 161, James Page 8.42; 162, Ida Elson 8.42; 162, Stephen Mulhern 8.42; 164, Laura Brentley 8.43; 165, Sophie Radcliffe 8.43; 166, Vicky Waterhouse 8.45; 167, Marty Smaillwood 8.45; 168, Stacey Hutchinson 8.45; 169, Erin De Backer 8.46; 169, Mike Travers 8.46; 171, Amelia Brockbanks 8.47; 171, Peter Downey 8.47; 173, Philip Kenney 8.48; 174, Jade Zorab 8.48; 175, Rhiannon Gibson 8.48; 176, Max Shallcross 8.49; 177, Tim Shallcross 8.49; 178, Jim Woodall 8.50; 179, Katie Ward 8.51; 180, Charlotte Lloyd 8.52; 181, Kirsty Heyes 8.53; 182, Katie Kennedy 8.53; 183, Wayne Kennedy 8.53; 184, Sarah Cain 8.53; 185, Becky McCann 8.54; 186, Robert Lewis 8.55; 187, Eileen Clarke 8.56; 188, Denise Bridson 8.56; 188, Rachele Quayle 8.56; 190, May Hooper 8.59; 191, Samantha Sharman 8.59; 192, Alexander Pickup 9.00; 192, Georgia Seaward 9.00; 194, Ellie Miller 9.00; 195, Nikki Salmon 9.01; 196, Larisa Butterworth 9.01; 197, Helen Edwards 9.01; 198, Hannah Kelly 9.02; 199, Jenny Geddes 9.04; 200, Andy Johnstone 9.04; 201, Samantha Crookall 9.05; 202, Hannah Griffiths 9.05; 203, Junona Ostache 9.06; 204, Matt Wilson 9.06; 205, Sinead Barry 9.07; 206, Eva Savoltova 9.07; 207, Kevin Lewin 9.07; 208, Laura Carson 9.10; 209, Brett Hammonds 9.16; 210, Jason Hill 9.16; 211, Stacey Quilliam 9.18; 212, Rachel Smith 9.20; 212, Phill Swales 9.20; 212, Karen Yates 9.20; 215, Sharon Counsell 9.20; 216, David Cannell 9.24; 217, Dan Scott 9.25; 218, Vaughan Batchelor 9.25; 219, Lucas Marinelli 9.26; 220, Sophie Armstrong 9.27; 221, Angie Goody 9.33; 222, Paul Naylor 9.34; 223, Jenny Cawte 9.36; 224, Babs Cowley 9.36; 225, Colin Cowley 9.36; 226, Helen Newbery 9.39; 227, Mark Lean 9.39; 228, Joanne Durber 9.39; 229, Caroline Helks 9.40; 230, Vicki Burgess 9.41; 231, Peter Sutton 9.42; 232, Suzie Biddulph 9.45; 233, Juliana Messias 9.47; 234, Kirsty Hemsley 9.52; 235, Angela Spriggs 9.52; 236, Archie Macleod 10.00; 237, Ali Macleod 10.01; 238, David Gibson 10.10; 239, Bruna Moreira 10.11; 240, Hebert Albertin 10.12; 241, Ricardo Brito 10.15; 242, Sheryl Macleod 10.18; 243, Julia Minay 10.25; 244, Karen McCarthy 10.26; 245, Balazs Toth 10.38; 246, Michael Taylor 10.40; 247, Sam White-Jameson 10.43; 248, Myska Knop 10.55; 249, Eric van der Merwa 10.57; 250, Emily Knop 10.58; 251, Philip Knop 10.58; 252, Mirelle Furlan 11.14; 252, James McCullough 11.14; 254, Tineke Bradshaw 11.28; 255, Aga Mochocka 11.31; 256, Theresa Conradie 11.32; 257, Jack Leece 11.46; 258, John Ballard 12.22; 259, Glesni Witt 12.26; 260, Annie Eastham 12.26; 261, Bianca Cawkwell 12.26; 262, Tristan Kirby 13.51; 263, Leanne Budzinska 13.51; 263, Abi Robson 13.51; 265, Ana Macias 14.22; 266, Lee-Ann Tang 14.59. Results by Manx Timing Solutions.

(Left to right) Bianca Cawkwell, Annie Eastham, John Ballard and Glesni Witt all got in the festive spirit for the Children's Centre (Photo: Dave Norton)
(Left to right) Bianca Cawkwell, Annie Eastham, John Ballard and Glesni Witt all got in the festive spirit for the Children's Centre (Photo: Dave Norton) (Dave Norton)