Weymouth was filled with prehistoric fun on Saturday, February 15th, as the town hosted its second annual Everybody Chase the Dinosaur race. Hundreds of enthusiastic runners – some in full dinosaur costumes – took to Weymouth Beach and the surrounding town to kick off Dino Week in the most exciting way possible.
With over 150 participants and visitors traveling from Birmingham, Gloucester, Kent, and Luton, this year’s event was bigger and better than ever. More importantly, it raised an amazing £1,005 for the Will Mackaness Trust, supporting water sports safety and training.
Organised by We Are Weymouth, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), the event wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of The Pavilion Theatre, which donated its facilities, and the fantastic volunteers from Wey Valley School.
“We were absolutely thrilled to see so many people enjoying Weymouth and getting involved in the Dino Run,” said Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer of We Are Weymouth. “It’s fantastic to see families, friends, and individuals of all ages embracing the dinosaur theme and supporting a wonderful cause. The atmosphere was incredible, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!”
Meet the Dino Champions:
From little dino tots to speedy adult racers, competitors gave it their all—some even braving the challenge in full dinosaur outfits!
🦕 Preschool Race (Mini Dinos)
🥇 Harry
🥈 Aria
🥉 Charlie
🦖 Under 11s 1K Race
🥇 Zackery
🥈 Charlie
🥉 Blaze
🔹 Special Mention: Jackson, the only under-11 to complete the race in full dino gear!
🦕 Under 16s 2K Race
🥇 Harry
🥈 Jack
🥉 Tom
🦖 Adults 5K Race
🥇 Matthew Smith
🥈 Stephen Hore
🥉 Stephen Packman
Winners were presented with medals by Mayor Cllr Jon Orrell, who praised the event for its sense of fun and community spirit.
Beyond the thrill of the race, Everybody Chase the Dinosaur helps support the Will Mackaness Trust, a charity dedicated to providing water sports training and safety education.
Pam Govier, representing the trust, shared: “Thank you to Dawn and the We Are Weymouth team for organising such a brilliant event. It not only raises valuable funds but also brings great awareness to both the trust and the town itself. The dinosaur theme has really captured people’s imaginations, and it’s wonderful to see so many people getting involved.”
The excitement around Everybody Chase the Dinosaur is spreading, with visitors traveling from far and wide to join the fun.
One enthusiastic participant, Tanya Baldwin from Birmingham, explained why she made the trip: “I saw this event advertised on Facebook and thought it was the perfect excuse to finally use a dinosaur costume I bought during lockdown! I hadn’t been to Weymouth since I was little, so I decided to stay for the weekend, explore the town, see the animatronic dinosaur, and do the new fossil trail. Next year, we’re bringing friends with us!”
This event proves that Weymouth is the ultimate spot for family fun, adventure, and dino-mania! Whether you want to run, cheer, or simply enjoy the spectacle, make sure you don’t miss next year’s prehistoric party. Follow We Are Weymouth for the latest events and updates.
