Runners aim to smash 10K race record (From Gazette & Herald)

Runners aim to smash 10K race record

THE race is on.

The Kirkbymoorside 10K, as sponsored by the Gazette & Herald in association with the King's Head Hotel, takes place this Sunday, and a big field of runners is expected.

Organiser Malcolm Hodgson said: "The total entries to date is 242 - leaving some 158 entries available on the day. We are expecting a lot of entries on the day, so people will need to come early to be sure of getting an entry. Entry registration will be available from noon at the memorial hall.

"A lot of clubs have entered some of their top runners and there is a high expectancy that the course records will be smashed on the day. The current record is 34 minutes and 12 seconds for men and 37 minutes and 40 seconds for ladies.

"It'll be a great day out for everyone. We know we've got runners from Sheffield and Newcastle, so we've spread that far, which is great!"

Anyone wanting to enter late at noon in the memorial hall must pay £1 extra, for a total fee of £5.75 for members of a UKA Club or £6.75 otherwise. A results sheet costs a further £1.

At 12.40pm, the Kirkbymoorside Brass Band will start to play.

The first race is at 1pm, with the children's one-mile race setting off. The children's route heads up Castlegate and through Manor Vale Wood before coming back around to the main street. Children's prizes will be presented at the bandstand at 2.05pm.

Finally comes the main event. The runners will set off from the centre of Kirkbymoorside, just outside the Black Horse pub, at 2pm, with runners being played out by the band.

Before the race starts, runners are asked to gather in the triangular area outside the White Swan pub where they will wait until about five minutes before the start, when all runners will be called to the start position.

Some limited changing facilities will be available at the race headquarters in the memorial hall and the sports field car park is available for parking. Please allow yourself at least 15 minutes to walk from the car park to the start position.

If the sports field is waterlogged, then limited parking will be available at the overflow car park at Ryedale Printing Group/Ryedale Laundry/Interpower.

Runners must secure their number to the front of their vest and ensure it is prominent when finishing.

The first part of the race is uphill, as the run climbs out of Kirkbymoorside towards Gillamoor and the edge of the North York Moors National Park. After this, the route descends slightly to Fadmoor, which is the halfway mark and where there will be a drinks station. Then it is downhill nearly all the way to Kirkbymoorside with the exception of a "little teaser of a hill" near the five-mile mark.

Prizes will be presented in the King's Head Hotel at 3.20pm.

Mr Hodgson said: "Thanks are due to the many people who give goodwill and support for this event, including the numerous sponsors and especially the main sponsors - the Gazette & Herald and the King's Head Hotel."

Other sponsors for the event include Ryedale District Council, Sports Quest, the Ryedale Printing Group, C W Strickland and Son, the White Swan, KMS Hair by Design, Kitching Walker Solicitors, Spar, Yorkshire Bank, Kirkbymoorside Natural Health Centre, William Hodgson and Sons (Motors) Ltd, Towlers Ltd, The Home Decorating Centre, the Royal Oak Inn and The Plough Inn.

Updated: 11:12 Thursday, April 25, 2002