Sunday 2nd October 2011 saw the 4th running of the White Swan Road Races, 1k, 6k and 10k distances around the local lanes. Firstly and most importantly, I’d like to thank the local residents. To those that provided valuable and super-supportive and friendly help and to everyone else for their understanding. An influx of well over 150 people to the village will inevitably cause concern to some and I’m please to say I have had no reports of any incidents!
Races kicked off at 10:30 with the 1K race around the grounds of the Rectory behind the school. Many thanks to Sarah Walsh and family for once again providing their grounds for parking and the 1K route. I took on the role of ‘Hare’ just managing to stay ahead of the fastest young runners around the undulating course. Megan Woollons showed a final burst of speed along the back straight to pip Ruth Mensa to the line. Ruth had led from the start but perhaps exhausted any reserves of energy earlier in the race. Matthew Coe showed great form coming in First for the boys. You will see from the results some amazing times considering the ages of some of the competitors. Some real budding young athletes in our midst I think.
Thankfully for us the heat wave from Saturday subsided slightly to provide perfect running conditions – dull, cool and some gentle rain to cool runners down (not so great for the marshals and spectators). However, after last year’s drenching, this year was positively tropical.
The main events started at 11:30 when 134 runners (a slightly smaller field from last year) set off from the school field gate, up high street on the first leg of the 6k and 10k distances. By the time they returned to Thornton Le Clay a fair gap had opened between the lead runners. They continued to Foston around Blue Coates farm and returned to finish in the school field. No record breaking times this year though.
We are now seeing many runners return year on year, I’d like to assume it is because of the fabulous fast running route, but perhaps it might have something to do with the fantastic spread of teas, cakes and sandwiches provided by PAFFS (Parents and Friends of Foston School) in the village hall. I’m not sure I have seen such an array of goodies at a running race before.
So there you have it, another year completed. Sadly putting on these events does not come cheap and unsurprisingly race fees and clock hire rose a little too this year. However, despite the cost we made a profit and thanks to further sponsorship from Barclays Bank and our local travel company Inntravel Ltd, just up the road at Whitwell Grange, near Castle Howard we will boost the much needed village hall funds again this year.
Once again thanks to all involved, I hope I can rely on your help and support next year - Sunday 14th October 2012.
Regards
Richard Harrison
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Thornton Le Clay Road Races 2009
SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER 2009
Foston and Thornton le Clay village institute in association with Easingwold Running Club is very please to be offering a selection of road races for you you to enter this year.1K Dash (race start 10am) - First for all those budding yearly years runners and of course anyone who just wants to try out thier running legs. Beware though, the kids that I've recently seen enter this type of event are fiercely competative and 'fast'.
6K Race (race start 12 noon) - One lap of the road course to test those new starters and junior teens.
10K Race (race start 12 noon) - The full race posted last year with an additional 4K on the 6K course to complete the accurately measured route. This year the farm roads have been newly surface to ensure an even faster time.
More race information is available to download including race entry forms for postal entries. online entries can be completed at http://www.ukresults.net/
Look forward to seeing you on Sunday 4th October.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
2008 
Race Report
What a day!!! A huge thanks and a well done to everyone especially all that sponsored, printed, delivered, took part, marshalled, encouraged, made cakes, served tea, put up and took down equipment, supplied equipment, took photos and prayed for a fine day! I think we got one in the end.
Race ReportRace Statistics
Total 144 competit ors: 101 Men 43 Women
Winning mans time: 33:28 Winning ladies time: 39:40
17 Local entries: 13 Men 4 Women
Winning local mans time: 39:03 Winning local ladies time: 47:12
1st Local Man: Simon Armitstead 1st Local Lady: Helen Blackburn
2nd Locan Man: Craig Anderton 2nd Local Lady: Wendy Holman
3rd Local Man: David Recchia
40 helpers from the village and surrounding area
Winning mans time: 33:28 Winning ladies time: 39:40
17 Local entries: 13 Men 4 Women
Winning local mans time: 39:03 Winning local ladies time: 47:12
1st Local Man: Simon Armitstead 1st Local Lady: Helen Blackburn
2nd Locan Man: Craig Anderton 2nd Local Lady: Wendy Holman
3rd Local Man: David Recchia
40 helpers from the village and surrounding area
Full results available online at www.easingwoldrunningclub.org.uk/events
The main aim was to support the village hall and raise some funds to keep the building maintained to continue to enable other community activities to benefit from its being. Secondly to provide a family focused occasion where the whole community could get involved at whatever level they liked.
Rather than a simple ‘fun run’ we had the course officially measured by UK Athletics as a 10 kilometres/ 6.21 mile route as this was more likely to attract most interest.
All race costs and prizes were paid for by sponsorship raised from local businesses. The Sydney Smith Association supported a specific set of local trophies for competitors living within a 5 mile radius of Thornton-Le-Clay. We provided a reusable shopping bag printed with the race logo and filled with goodies as a race memento for all competitors to keep and remind them of the day.
Race day went without a hitch and all participants commented on how much they enjoyed it. Many of the competitors had travelled from quite a distance including, Leeds, Doncaster, Sheffield, Lytham St Anne’s and two blind runners from Essex. The race marshals did fabulous job of supporting the runners. The finish set up seemed to work well and there were some fantastic finish times, and personal bests.
Prize giving was well supported, with many people remaining behind to collect prizes and congratulate winners accordingly. The atmosphere was superb.
What next, we don’t anticipate it growing to the size of the Great North Run, as one competitor wrote in an e-mail congratulating us on the event…
“Thanks once again for the race which was very well organised, a good course, good parking, p.a. system, all the trimmings in fact of many long established events. I am just trying to visualise the future with 50,000 participants running through that farmyard!”
Colin Utterson (Winner M60 Category)
Not sure what Richard Watson from Blue Coat Farm would think about that,
but I think he’s safe for now. We hope to organise the same event next year with your support and hopefully grow the numbers a little to generate more funds for the Village. The addition of a shorter 6 km race could be good and a 1 km dash for the younger members of the village to show their fitness as the next generation of athletes. It will certainly be a yearly fixture unless we have any significant objections.
Congratulations again to everyone.
Race Feedback:
I'm the son of John and the prize-winning Wendy Holman, and came over for the 10k run at the weekend - to do it myself and to lend mum some support! I meant to thank you and Richard on the day for a really great event but was lured by the pub before I could do so. It was a terrific morning and all seemed to be flawlessly organised, as well as great fun. I know how much hard work it takes to put together things like this, so thank you both! If you can face doing it again I should think it'll become a very popular annual occasion and I'll certainly be back!
The main aim was to support the village hall and raise some funds to keep the building maintained to continue to enable other community activities to benefit from its being. Secondly to provide a family focused occasion where the whole community could get involved at whatever level they liked.
Rather than a simple ‘fun run’ we had the course officially measured by UK Athletics as a 10 kilometres/ 6.21 mile route as this was more likely to attract most interest.
All race costs and prizes were paid for by sponsorship raised from local businesses. The Sydney Smith Association supported a specific set of local trophies for competitors living within a 5 mile radius of Thornton-Le-Clay. We provided a reusable shopping bag printed with the race logo and filled with goodies as a race memento for all competitors to keep and remind them of the day.
Race day went without a hitch and all participants commented on how much they enjoyed it. Many of the competitors had travelled from quite a distance including, Leeds, Doncaster, Sheffield, Lytham St Anne’s and two blind runners from Essex. The race marshals did fabulous job of supporting the runners. The finish set up seemed to work well and there were some fantastic finish times, and personal bests.
Prize giving was well supported, with many people remaining behind to collect prizes and congratulate winners accordingly. The atmosphere was superb.What next, we don’t anticipate it growing to the size of the Great North Run, as one competitor wrote in an e-mail congratulating us on the event…
“Thanks once again for the race which was very well organised, a good course, good parking, p.a. system, all the trimmings in fact of many long established events. I am just trying to visualise the future with 50,000 participants running through that farmyard!”
Colin Utterson (Winner M60 Category)
Not sure what Richard Watson from Blue Coat Farm would think about that,
but I think he’s safe for now. We hope to organise the same event next year with your support and hopefully grow the numbers a little to generate more funds for the Village. The addition of a shorter 6 km race could be good and a 1 km dash for the younger members of the village to show their fitness as the next generation of athletes. It will certainly be a yearly fixture unless we have any significant objections.Congratulations again to everyone.
Race Feedback:
I'm the son of John and the prize-winning Wendy Holman, and came over for the 10k run at the weekend - to do it myself and to lend mum some support! I meant to thank you and Richard on the day for a really great event but was lured by the pub before I could do so. It was a terrific morning and all seemed to be flawlessly organised, as well as great fun. I know how much hard work it takes to put together things like this, so thank you both! If you can face doing it again I should think it'll become a very popular annual occasion and I'll certainly be back!
Best wishes
Tom Holman
I would like to congratulate you on arranging the first White Swan 10k race on Saturday.
I thoroughly enjoyed the run, although it was a little cold and windy, it was a successful race.
It was a well organised event and my family really enjoyed the entertainment also.
Vicky Whitelock
Just wanted to thank everyone involved in the race yesterday it was very well organised and enjoyable.I was also hoping you could put me out of my misery and let me know my finishing time as I was a bit worse for wear when I crossed the line.
I would like to congratulate you on arranging the first White Swan 10k race on Saturday.
I thoroughly enjoyed the run, although it was a little cold and windy, it was a successful race.
It was a well organised event and my family really enjoyed the entertainment also.
Vicky Whitelock
Just wanted to thank everyone involved in the race yesterday it was very well organised and enjoyable.I was also hoping you could put me out of my misery and let me know my finishing time as I was a bit worse for wear when I crossed the line.
Many Thanks
Mark Hill
Hi, Many thanks for a superb event. Please pass thanks to marshals and the teas team as well. Nice to see a small community working so hard together. Hard to see anything you should change for next year. Hope you are out for dinner tonight!
Hi, Many thanks for a superb event. Please pass thanks to marshals and the teas team as well. Nice to see a small community working so hard together. Hard to see anything you should change for next year. Hope you are out for dinner tonight!
Tony Williams
Thanks for a very successful event. I particularly liked the figure of eight course and the bag, much more useful to me than another tee shirt. I hope you manage to hold it again to give me a chance to run a bit faster.
Best wishes.
Paul Jacobs
Well done again, it all seemed to go very well and I'm sure it could be a full entry next year.
Imagine you will we collapsing or getting drunk (or both!) after your efforts, but send me the results as soon as you like and I'll get them on the site. Photos at some stage would be good.
Regards
Ken Dart
I did the run on Saturday from Thornton-Le-Clay and I just wanted to say a really big thanks to all who organized it, and the super-friendly marshals who lined the route, smiling and encouraging us all, despite the cold. I tried to say thanks to most of them as I was going, but ran out of breath at some points….. I have only done “big ugly” 10k races before, with thousands of people, but Saturday was so much more fun. It was a great course as well – I really liked the figure of 8 thing that was going on. The whole event has fired me with enthusiasm to do more club running and smaller runs in general, so thank you!
See you next year!
Thanks for a very successful event. I particularly liked the figure of eight course and the bag, much more useful to me than another tee shirt. I hope you manage to hold it again to give me a chance to run a bit faster.
Best wishes.
Paul Jacobs
Well done again, it all seemed to go very well and I'm sure it could be a full entry next year.
Imagine you will we collapsing or getting drunk (or both!) after your efforts, but send me the results as soon as you like and I'll get them on the site. Photos at some stage would be good.
Regards
Ken Dart
I did the run on Saturday from Thornton-Le-Clay and I just wanted to say a really big thanks to all who organized it, and the super-friendly marshals who lined the route, smiling and encouraging us all, despite the cold. I tried to say thanks to most of them as I was going, but ran out of breath at some points….. I have only done “big ugly” 10k races before, with thousands of people, but Saturday was so much more fun. It was a great course as well – I really liked the figure of 8 thing that was going on. The whole event has fired me with enthusiasm to do more club running and smaller runs in general, so thank you!
See you next year!
Liz Gray
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