More than 500 runners and walkers took to the streets on Sunday to take part in the Red Cross Jingle Bell 5K.

With all funds raised heading the way of the Bermuda Red Cross, which does hugely valuable work in the local community, organisers of the event were delighted with the turnout, more than double that of 2023.

With many runners donning festive outfits as prizes were given out for the best costume as well as to the race winners, the huge number of runners made for an awesome sight as the race started.

While runners stretched as far as the eye could see at first, come the finish there was only one man in view as perennial winner Sean Trott crossed the line in 16min 34sec.

He was 27 seconds clear of Jake Smith (17:01), who finished runner-up, with Sanches Smith (17:04), Philip Woollins (17:08) and Chayce Smith (17:34) rounding out the top five in the men’s race.

Estienne Coetzee came home first in the women’s race with her time of 18:09 good enough for a top-ten finish overall. Coetzee came home just eight seconds clear of her nearest rival Megan Berry (18:17), with Stepanka Sprincova (19:22), Bella Wright (19:37) and Teresa Ruiz (19:44) the next three women to complete the field.