Up to 1,000 people are set to take part in the Run Harrogate 10k this weekend.

The annual race, which goes around Crimple Valley, is Harrogate Harriers‘ premier event of the year.

It starts at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre on Hookstone Wood Road at 10am on Sunday and finishes at the same place.

This year’s event, which is sponsored by Knaresborough renewable energy firm Harmony Energy, includes a new kids’ fun run, starting at 9am.

The fun run has a 1.3km run for children in years two to five at school and a 2.6km run for children in years six to nine.

Rudding Lane will be closed from about 9.30am to 11am while the race takes place.

The multi-terrain route is about 70 per cent tarmac road, with the remainder on good footpaths.

The men’s race record is 33 minutes and 29 seconds, set by Marcos Palacios. The women’s record is 42 minutes and 32 seconds, set by local athlete Tam Calder, who has entered this year.

Marcos Palacios

Tam Calder

About 550 people have entered so far. The race capacity is 1,000 so you can enter on the day.

Sue Moul, membership secretary at Harrogate Harriers, said:

“It’s our premier event and we are looking forward to welcoming everybody back to the course.”

All finishers receive a medal and goody bag and there is a £1,500 prize fund.

Entry fee for runners who aren’t affiliated to Harrogate Harriers is £19 if paid in advance.

The kids’ race costs £3 to enter and all proceeds are donated to CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably.

A donation from the adult races will go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Further details are available here.

Cancer Research UK is inviting people to take part in Race for Life in Harrogate on Sunday, July 10.

Women, men and children can choose to enter 3k, 5k and 10k events in the town that all start from The Stray.

There is also a chance to take part in obstacle courses Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids.

Race for Life was cancelled in 2020 due to covid but returned to Harrogate in September last year.

Money raised from the event helps scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

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Siobhan Byrne, Race for Life spokesperson for Harrogate, said:

“Our Race for Life events are open to all. For some people, the Race for Life is literally a walk in the park. Slow and steady still wins. For others, it’s a jog. Others may opt to push themselves harder, taking up the challenge of the 10k distance and even pushing for a new personal best time.

“But what is for certain is we’re looking forward to welcoming people of all ages and abilities. Race for Life Harrogate will be fun, emotional, colourful, uplifting and an unforgettable event this year.”  

Anyone who signs up between Monday April 4 and Monday April 18 can claim a 30% off the entry fee as part of a special sale by using the code EASTER30.

Besides the entry fee, competitors will be asked for £50 minimum sponsorship.

To sign up, visit raceforlife.org.

Ripon Runners made up for lost time when the Lightwater Valley 10k returned at the weekend after two years off because of covid.

Ted Leahy completed the testing course in 35 minutes and 43 seconds to win the men’s open race, 19 seconds ahead of Ripon Runners clubmate Jamie Baker.

Jamie was outright second in the race and also won the men’s seniors event in a time of 36.02, almost five and a half minutes ahead of the second-placed senior runner.

Ted Leahy, winner of the men’s race and Emily Abbey, who won the women’s race

Other winners from the club, included Ian Harrison in the male veterans 40 race and Lenny Lennox who was the first male veteran over 60 to cross the finishing line.

The outright winner of the women’s race was Emily Abbey of Swaledale Runners in a time of 44 minutes and.37 seconds.

Morag McDowall and Lucy Philpott capped an outstanding day for Ripon Runners by winning the female veterans 55-years old and female veterans seniors categories respectively.

A total of 136 runners completed the race and many more, including junior runners, took part in the 3k event.

The other winner was North Stainley Primary School, which raised much-needed funds from the entry fees paid by runners.

The annual race, over an undulating multi-terrain route, is organised by the charity Friends of North Stainley School and covers a course that  passes through the Lightwater estate and the surrounding countryside.

Money raised contributes towards the cost of school trips, technology for pupils, music lessons and sporting activities.

North Stainley Primary School opened in 1871 and is still based in its original building, close to the village church of St Mary’s.

All photographs provided by Tyler Parker Photography.

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Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate is launching a 10km multi-terrain race to raise money for the Queen’s platinum jubilee initiative to plant more trees.

The Rudding ParkRace, as it will be known, will take participants through 300 acres of parkland.

Profits from the race will be donated to The Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative that encourages people to plant a tree in honour of the jubilee.

The race will be held on Tuesday, May 10 and the 18th century hotel will act as a backdrop for the finish line.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said:

This year the Harrogate Harriers will use money raised to support the cardiac unit at Leeds General Infirmary, which saved the life of club member Rob Athey.

Mr Athey, 48, who lives in Harrogate, survived an alarming chain of events that started with a grazed knee last autumn and resulted in life-saving heart surgery and a two-month hospital stay.

He said:

“I do a lot of off-road running so I picked up a graze on my knee, which caused me to contract a blood infection called endocarditis. That took over my body and damaged my heart valve. Some of the heart valve came away, causing a blood clot, and then I suffered a stroke on the back of that.

“Then it came to light that I needed open-heart surgery to actually replace the heart valve.

“I got tested positive for covid as well, which meant that when they performed the open-heart surgery – because they have to stop your heart to work on it – it was touch and go. Basically, they actually saved my life.”

Harrogate Harriers club member Rob Athey. He will run this summer’s 10k event to raise funds for LGI’s cardiac unit.

Mr Athey, who went back to work for Lloyds Banking Group in March, added:

“It’s life-changing. Life will never be the same again, but I’m so grateful for LGI for treating me. The NHS are fantastic, Harrogate ambulance service were fantastic in getting me there for all my procedures that I needed.

“I’m now recovering and I’m back trying to do a bit of running, although I can’t do too much. Because I’m a member of Harrogate Harriers I’d like to raise money for the cardiac unit at the LGI and (club chair Adam Prentis) said ‘yes, fantastic, we’d love to support that cause’.”

He has been running 5k distances as part of his training and is aiming to get around the 10k route in an hour – but insisted that his main motivation was completing the course and raising money.

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The undulating route in the Crimple Valley, south-east of the town, will start and finish at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, next to the Great Yorkshire Showground. Although it is described as multi-terrain, 70% of the single lap is on roads.

Runners on the Run Harrogate 10k course through the Crimple Valley in 2019. Photo: Dan Oxtoby Photography

So far the 10k event is only at half capacity, with 428 places out of 1,000 still up for grabs. The entry fee is £17 for UK athletics club members and £19 for non-members.