Councillors Hail Race Meet on the Moor (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Councillors Hail Race Meet on the Moor

July 6, 2005 10:14 AM

Local Lib Dem Councillors Kabeer Hussain, Linda Rhodes - Clayton and Penny Ewens have welcomed news that Leeds City Athletics club is once again to stage their annual Hyde Park 5K Road Race Series on Woodhouse Moor. The series, now in its fourth year is to take place on three dates over the months of July, August and September.

Councillor Kabeer Hussain (Lib Dem, Hyde Park & Woodhouse) said, "The race series is a fantastic opportunity for local residents to get involved in a major sporting activity right on their doorstep. Leeds City Athletic Club should be praised for putting on an event based on participation rather than ability. "

• The dates proposed for the Road Race Series are 6th July, 3rd August and 7th September (all Wednesday's) with the 5k races at 7.30 p.m. being preceded by a mile race at 7.00 p.m.

• Race History: www.leedscityathleticclub.org

• Note from the Race Organiser, Mr Tony Gill (Leeds City Athletics Club):

"The race appeared to be dying on its feet some 6 years ago as we only had 60 odd runners. The following year was my first in charge and we appealed to the fun runner more than the elite athlete and we doubled our entries. Despite being the premier athletic club in the North, we have always made this race a friendly event and aimed at helping the non elite athlete enjoy

themselves and gain a taste of a racing event. We moved it to a 3 race series some 4 years ago and it has proved to be a huge success, with some athletes running every year. We try not to make it elitist and always have the emphasis on enjoyment, all finishers in the fun

run get a goody bag and all entrants who enter the 5k series receive a tee shirt. The race is manned by club officials and St Johns Ambulance and always relies on volunteers. This year as it is the tenth anniversary of Pete Atkinson's tragic death* we are promoting the final race as a charity event, with a donation going to the diabetic association and also cancer research."