Event Reports

Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling - Sunday 5th April 2009

Seven Wakefield MAG members helped to marshal this years Wakefield Hospice 10K race, which was held on Sunday 5th April. Wakefield MAG have provided mobile marshals for a good number of years now, and our assistance undoubtedly helps the event to run smoothly, and generate much needed funds for this very worthy local charity. The Wakefield Hospice 10K race is a very well attended amateur athletics event and attracts well over a 1,000 competitors.

The route had been changed for 2009, and couldn't have been much simpler, coming out of Clarence Park, along Lawefield Lane, to Horbury Road, then several kilometres out to Highfield Road, a U turn, and back along Horbury Road to Clarence Park. A whole side of the carriageway on Horbury Road was closed for the duration of the race.

There was only one wheelchair competitor this year so Steve & Daz were allocated to marshal him, setting off at 09:45. The main pack set off at 10:00 and Steve J, Mark & Chas acted as the race front markers, with Steve giving a pillion ride to a Wakefield Hospice official. Back markers were provided by Toby (sensibly on a push bike), and Lisa.

The wheelchair competitor was understandably slow going up hill, but more than made up for it going downhill, reaching speeds of 40 MPH (my Enfield was struggling to keep up !!!). The wheelchair competitor met the main pack of runners on his return but they were soon passed and he made the finish line in around 20 minutes, pretty impressive. The front runner was not too far behind and made the finish line in around 30 minutes. Steve J, Chas and Mark said that they were averaging about 8-10 MPH, so the guy was really motoring. It was actually a good few minutes before the second runner appeared.

The back markers came home a good while later !!!!!

Our marshals did a superb job of helping to mark the runners, and got several thank you's over the tannoy from the organisers.

Time for a group photo, then we all made our separate ways home.

Wakefield MAG 10K Race Marshals

A great result, the weather couldn't have been better, dry and sunny, but not too warm (most of us were on air cooled bikes and not travelling very fast, we didn't want any over heating problems). A huge thanks to both Steve's, Toby, Lisa, Mark, Chas & Daz, for making the effort to get up so early on a Sunday morning, but well worth it, for a good deed for a worthy cause.

We'll be helping the Hospice with this event again next year, so if you would like to help, give me a shout (back markers on push bikes highly recommended !!!).