Village remembers Olympic gold hero

A DORSET village will remember the first Briton to win an Olympic Gold medal for athletics with eight charity road races.
Local hero Charles Bennett, from Shapwick, made history by breaking the 1,500-metre world record with 4min 6.2sec in Paris in 1900.
Eight one-mile races will be held to celebrate his achievements on Sunday – exactly 112 years since he picked up a second Gold in the 5,000m team race.
Charles’s grandson Chris, from Bournemouth, Commonwealth athlete Roger Matthews and veteran members of Charles’s club the Finchley Harriers will present winners with their medals.
Members of Bournemouth and Wimborne Athletic Clubs bearing Olympic torches from London 1948 and London 2012 will open the event ahead of a villagers’ race at 12.30pm.
Organisers from Voice of Shapwick community group want people of all ages and abilities to join in.
Resident Sally Brown said: “Back in 2000 somebody in the village rediscovered Charles, who had sort of been forgotten.
“A race was organised, with 70-80 people competing. We just thought with London 2012 and all the sailing going on in Weymouth we really couldn’t let it pass without doing something.
“We now have small village races every year but we wanted to make this a really big deal.”
Money raised will go to The Pilgrim Bandits, a charity for returned amputee servicemen and women.
Patron Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan, will take part in the Paralympic mile on his hand bike.
Sally added: “The Bandits is a fantastic worthwhile cause.
“Ben is just for doing absolutely anything and is determined to do as much as he can.
“We’re delighted he’s coming.”
The triangle mile route ends at The Anchor, in the village centre. There will be challenges and entertainments on the Charles Bennett Village Green.
Participants should register at shapwick.com/run/2012/.