Around 50 runners and walkers took to the sand between Southend and Beachport on Saturday morning.

It was the second consecutive year the Millicent Runners organisded the fun event along the 18km of beach and the two jetties to coincide with the Beachport street market and duck race.

As in 2020, the first runner to reach Beachport was Lake Leake’s Owen Williams in one hour, 16 minutes.

He was around four minutes ahead of the fastest female runner, who was Emma Watts of Rocky Camp.

Millicent Runners spokesman Brad Tilley said the twin aims of the event were social participation and achieving goals.

He said participants came from all over the state including Murray Bridge, Adelaide Hills, Melbourne, Naracoorte, Mount Gambier and Penola. “It was a calm, humid morning,” Tilley said.

“Sea mist meant no sea views but kept the sun burn away. “The youngest participants were Harry Gilbertson and Rosie Vowles both 13 and the oldest was 65.”

On the following day, the inaugural Doughnut Mile fun run was staged at the Beachport foreshore before a large gallery of spectators.

The 40 participants were required to eat doughnuts in stages while completing a 1600 metre circuit.

The doughnuts came from the van manned by the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay, A donation of $154 was made to this service club.

The Millicent Runners will now stage a 54km fun run starting at 6am on the Australia Day public holiday Tuesday, January 26.

Dubbed the Sandy Crack Ultra Run, the run will start from the Beachport Jetty and finish near the Fisherman’s Memorial at the Robe Marina.

Runners will make their way along sealed roads, 4WD tracks and beaches.