Event Reports

Wakefield Hospice 10K road race - Sunday 28th March 2010

Wakefield MAG once again helped with marshalling this years Wakefield Hospice 10K road race, on Sunday 28th March, as we have done for many years now.  Our role is predominantly to provide motorcycle marshals for the race's wheelchair competitors.  In previous years, we have also provided front and back markers for the main race, but this year, as the road was entirely closed to traffic, in both directions, two Police cars performed that role.

Steve & Justine arrived at 08:30 to take part in the final race organisers briefing in Clarence Park.  Daz, Lorna, Pingy, Martin & Chas all arrived at 09:00, in good time for the wheelchair race start at 09:35.  It was perfect weather conditions for the race, dry and sunny but not too warm.  This year, three wheelchair competitors had entered and assembled at the start line on Lawefield Lane.  The official race marshal set the wheelchair race off, after getting clearance from the police & highways, and we escorted the competitors down Park Grove Road and turning left onto Horbury Road.  By this point the field was starting to split up and the lead wheelchair was literally leaving the others for dust.  The race, as last year, followed a linear route along Horbury Road, to Quarry Hill, where it doubled back on itself, back towards Clarence Park.

The outbound route, although looking quite flat, is pretty much uphill most of the way, and proved to be a bit of a killer, coming back there are some long downhill sections, and the wheelchairs hit speeds of 30MPH+

We passed the main race competitors, who had set off 15 minutes after the wheelchairs, on their outward leg, just as we were nearing the finish.  The lead wheelchair, who had led for the entire race, finished very strongly, followed a few minutes later by the second wheelchair.  The lead runners finished shortly afterwards, putting in close to professional athlete times.

The third wheelchair competitor was struggling a little bit and was caught up with the mass of runners in the main race but Lorna, Martin & Daz did a cracking job of segregating the 'traffic' for him.  Massive credit to him though, he didn't give up and kept going all the way to the end, even though his arms probably felt like they were made of rubber by that stage.

This years 10K race was very well attended, and was covered on that evenings Calendar TV news and Ridings FM radio news.  The best news however was that the race raised £30,000 for Wakefield Hospice, which is a fantastic result.

A huge thanks to all our mobile marshals and it is great to be able to support our local charity.

our mobile marshals

Our next event, supporting Wakefield Hospice, is our bike show, at the Hospice May Day Gala, on Bank Holiday Monday (3rd May).  This year is the 20th anniversary of Wakefield Hospice, so lets help them celebrate that milestone by putting on our biggest and best bike show to date !!!!