Local Races
Here is a list of local distance races, user tested by John Dale (thanks John!), one of our club members, who can sometimes be seen pounding the streets just as dawn approaches!!
"Race comments together with approximate dates, please accept that they are personal to this vet runner only. Some races that are currently ‘suspended’ are included at the end.
Half Marathon
- Knavesmire "Brass Monkey"
York Race Course, January. Flat course, excellent marshalling. Drawback over subscribed entries, so enter early. Very raw!!
- Ackworth,
Pontefract way. March. Undulating course, somewhat difficult parking in village.
- Doncaster.
March. New two lap course, this year, the odd hill or two. Excellent local ‘restaurant/pub’ at start/finish for family supporters, together with fishing ponds.
- Yorkshire Wolds,
Bishop Wilton, Pocklington way. July. Very tough undulating course. Event linked to agricultural show, so good day for family
- Three Villages,
Wolds, as above, September Very, very tough course. Half mile plus walk to start line.
- Selby,
October, flat course (apart from 2 railway bridges). Good crowd participation in Selby, Wistow, Cawood, but generally quiet rural run.
- Bridlington.
October. Blustery course close to coast. ‘Handy’ leisure centre
Ten Mile
- Snake Lane,
Pocklington, February. Undulating course can be very challenging in driving snow, ask Jim Harran, another Striders veteran !! Start 7 minute walk from Rugby Club
- Ferriby,
nr Hull. March. 5 miles ‘up’, 5 miles ‘down.
- Tadcaster,
May. Flat course, usually corresponds to a ‘heat wave’, so beware.
- Askern,
towards Doncaster. August. Fast course, with one hill, but again usually at time of testing temperatures.
- Guy Fawkes,
Harrogate November. Very undulating, part "off road" course; watch the flight of steps after half a mile. Start and finish near Ripley Castle
Under Ten Mile
- Norton Nine,
towards Doncaster March. Undulating Course, but good early season training.
- Goole Third Marathon River Bank Challenge.
June. Virtually off road; riverbank course, with six stiles to negotiate; ‘nice’ challenging run.
10 k ie 6¼ miles(
* signifies the York and District Road Race League 10k Race Series, entrants must be a member of a participating local club please refer to the Summer Race League and other links sections of the site for more info)
- Kirkbymoorside,
April. 3 miles up, 3 miles down, park in town centre side streets
- Wigginton, York. May Bank Holiday event. Flat course, usually hot day.
- * Tadcaster, May. Undulating course, testing for first run in the 10k race series.
- * Pocklington, May. Undulating course, start/finish at Rugby Club.
- * Stockton-on the Forest, York. Alternate event, nice rural course, challenging toilets!!
- Askern,
May. Nice run but ‘sandwiched’ within York 10 k race series
- * Easingwold. June. Very undulating course
- * Bishop Wilton. June. Very testing hill after 2k
- * Selby, July. Wistow start/finish. Fast and flat course. Good for a PB.
- * Stillington, July. Runners start off at ‘staggered’ handicap times
- Harrogate,
July. Testing two lap ‘town course’
- Temple Newsam,
Leeds. July. Two lap ‘internal park’ course
- Tholthorpe,
outside York, August. Village type run. Finish on the green nr. Duck pond
- Armthorpe,
Doncaster, August Bank Holiday run. Great ex ‘pit village’ atmosphere
- Pudsey
, Very testing hilly course, down hill off road section needs to be run with care
- Thorp Arch.
Rural course, organised by local prison officers
- Bramham Park.
Tadcaster way October. Charity event off road (estate/trail/cross country). Marshalled by Tad Harriers, but 5k run/walk at same time
- Leeds "Abbey Dash",
December. "Out and back course", good for pb.
Races in Abeyance (due to ‘organisational problems’)
Worth running if they are ever ‘reactivated’.
Galtres Half, Easingwold, Lincoln Lakeside Half, Rowntree’s Ten, York (my favourite race, with start/finish at Askham Bryan Agricultural College), Boroughbridge Ten, (rural course but ‘tricky fiddly bit at the end’), Great Ouseburn Ten, between York and Harrogate.
John A Dale
12.05.03