14
Jun
GH Brooks win Great Knaresborough Bed Race for sixth straight year
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GH Brooks has won the Great Knaresborough Bed Race for the sixth year in a row.
The ace runners representing the building merchants successfully fended off opposition running clubs such as Knaresborough Striders, Harrogate Harriers and Nidd Valley Road Runners.
Although GH Brooks sponsors the bed, none of the first team runners work for the company. Contrary to what some think, however, none of them are paid.
The event was held in intense heat in the market town today (June 14) despite thunderstorm warnings yesterday. Temperatures reached 23 degrees celsius.
Massive crowds turned up to witness the 58th edition of the event. It is estimated that over 30,000 spectators were present.
The race was delayed by 10 minutes, which GH Brooks team member Chris Oddy said “wasn’t easy”.
The Stray Ferret spoke to team captain Chris Miller and the rest of the GH Brooks team after the announcement that they had won.
Miller said it felt much tougher than previous years:
It seemed hard today. It’s one of these things, we had really good confidence going into it but the other teams were gunning for us as well.
There’s a few improvements for us next year. The swim didn’t go as [well] as it had done in practice, but it’s just one of those things.
The GH Brooks first team cross the finish line.
Jack Kelly said this was one of the hardest races they’ve ever done together.
He told us how they cope with being the team everyone wants to beat:
My thought was: we’re a team, you can’t be the one that gives up. We’re all absolutely going for it. Everyone’s struggling this time, but just do it – we’re going to get there. And today we won, which is amazing.
Oddy said some rival teams ran quicker than them in training, but “ultimately it’s about who delivers on the day”.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon and his Parliamentary team were among those taking part. They aimed to raise £500 towards Knaresborough Town AFC’s new artificial grass pitches.
Tom Gordon (holding the bed) and his team.
Mr Gordon, who is the first MP ever to run in the race, mentioned the event in the House of Commons this week.
Due to an unconfirmed issue during the presentation, the race times are not currently available.
The only other awards given out were for best dressed bed, which went to The Rocket Men for the fourth year running, and the eco award, which went to Saint Michael’s Hospice.
Look for a gallery of the event soon.
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