First run in 2002 to benefit the Village Hall rebuilding fund, the race is always held on the 1st Sunday in July. In 2008 it was given the honour of being the Essex AAA 10K Championship Race, had 351 finishers and the new village hall was used as race HQ for the first time. The course record is 32 minutes 19 seconds held by Crispian Bloomfield of Billericay Striders (2007).
By kind permission of local landowners, the course largely uses private farm tracks, as well as crossing the historic Chipping Ongar/Willingale Airfield and passing the Norman All Saints’ Church at Norton Mandeville. The High Ongar 10K charity race is a registered charity no. 301342.
Since 2002 the High Ongar 10k has raised thousands of pounds to help rebuild the High Ongar Village Hall.
The hall is now complete and is a wonderful facility for the High Ongar community. Money raised by the race will now be split between various local good causes.
Chipping Ongar/Willingale airfield was home to the 387th Bomber Group of the US Air Force from 1943 to 1944.
They flew the B26 Marauder medium bomber (main picture), known as the ‘Widowmaker’ because it was challenging to fly for inexperienced pilots. Airfield history.
Tony Moore (in red) has been Race Director since the first race in 2002. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Ongar, who have supported the race alongside other local organisations and athletics clubs.
In 2009 Tony handed the Race Director’s crown over to another Tony - Tony Streeter.
