Image

May 20, 2025

Heather Wright Photos


It was a record-breaking year for the Watford Alvinston Road Race.

The race, organized by the Watford Optimists, attracted 666 people on Victoria Day. Ironically, it’s the run’s 66th year.

Jacob Marsh of London won the 8k race with a time of 31.50 and Jack Fairfield of London won the 16k with a time of 1:02:13.

Alexandra Wolting was the first woman across the finish line in the 8K and Emma Munroe of Sarnia was the first female across the 16K finish line with a time of 1:16:23.

The Optimist recognized Pete Kearns as the oldest 16K runner. He’s 78.

Roy Moons placed first in the 1K Kids Run. That race had 165 participants.

Most of the 666 runners were in the 8K race with 367 runners and 90 people ran the 16k event.

Runners cross the road race finishline May19.
Runners received a Road Race medal cross the finish line.
Jacob Marsh leads the 8K pack on Churchill Line
Jack Fairfiled, Christopher Joyce and
Spectators watch along Nauvoo Road at Churchill Line
Russell Minten heads into Watford
Alison van der Wal strains up the railroad bridge hill
Lauren DePooter jumps into the arms of Ashton Vink after they completed the 8K. They came in 50 and 51st

Share This

Image
Front Page

Former Courtright haunt of Al Capone being demolished

July 24, 2026

The Independent The home of the first business in Courtright – said to be the former haunt of gangster Al Capone – is being torn down. Demolition of what once was the Cathcart General Store started July 21. Local historian Kip Cuthbert says the building dates back to around the 1850’s as a general store. “William Cathcart established his general

Read More

Image
Front Page

Four charged with drug trafficking by Anishinabek Police after stop in Lambton Shores

July 24, 2026

The Independent Four people have been arrested after a drug trafficking investigation that started in May and ended with a traffic stop in Lambton Shores July 21. Anishinabek Police Service officers stopped a vehicle in Lambton Shores July 21. Police searched the vehicle and found seven grams of fentanyl and 51 hydromorphone tables. A 57-year-old man and 43 year-old woman,

Read More

Image
Front Page

Bluewater Bridge border guards seized 1.1 tonnes of drugs in $139 million bust

July 24, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent About 1.1 tonnes of the drugs seized in a $139 million drug investigation were seized at the Bluewater Bridge. And a Corunna man is one of 21 people charged in the massive drug ring which netted a total of 1.7 tonnes of cocaine, methamphetamine, opium and oxycodone. The investigation began in Windsor in January 2025. “At that

Read More

Image
Front Page

Ashley Norton Caught the Ace

July 24, 2026

Imperial Oil employee takes home $4.5 million in Sarnia Legion Cathy Dobson & Heather Wright/The Independent After 45 weeks, hundreds of thousands of tickets sold, food banks restocked and a whole lot of fun, the Chase for the Ace is over. Thursday, Ashley Norton’s ticket was drawn at the Sarnia Legion. The 44-year-old Imperial Oil maintenance manager chose envelope number

Read More