A RUNNING group has fallen at the last hurdle in a bid to win £25,000 for a running track at a Petersfield school.
Herne Junior School (HJS) supporters and the RunnyHoneys wanted to get children running a daily "golden mile" on the all-weather track as figures have shown it is the most obese school in Hampshire.
But despite securing 35,000 votes – the second highest figure in the Aviva Community Fund competition – the scheme didn’t win the support of judges.
The race is not completely run as around £4,500 in pledges and donations has been secured with alternative grants being sought.
The school also received £500 from organisers in recognition of their efforts but Elizabeth Mant, run leader mentor at the Runnyhoneys, called the outcome disappointing.
She said: "It was so disappointing to get so much support and get nothing.
"We knew we had the second highest vote but they will only get you so far at the final stage because there’s a judging panel."
"I think sometimes the postcode doesn’t help us," she added. "People from outside see the GU mark and think it’s an affluent area and when it comes to funding we’ve perhaps been less successful because of that."
Judges gave £25,000 to Lancashire charity Embrace Wigan and Leigh to launch a dating agency.
Herne headteacher Tony Markham said it was hard to understand how HJS received so little funding from Aviva given the massive show of support.
"On the plus side, we still have several strands of grants and additional funding to explore and we have already raised a lot of money from the Crowdfunding page," wrote Mr Markham in the school newsletter.
"We will continue to work with the RunnyHoneys to work towards this great project for tackling the children’s fitness and wellbeing."
For details visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/running-track-for-herne-junior-school