THE XTREME PURSUIT CHALLENGE – at THE CATTON HALL ESTATE – on SUNDAY the 7th of JULY 10.30am

In association with easyfundraising.org

The Xtreme Pursuit Challenge starts in 1 month, 19 days, 11 hours, 3 minutes, 33 seconds

You can Enter Online for the Xtreme Pursuit Challenge Now.

This is a new event, a pursuit style race for Xtreme enthusiasts, a specially designed obstacle filled circuit.

PURSUIT IS A GAME OF ELIMINATION! Only the strongest survive – a multiple lap race, where only the fastest progress… DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND! The distance is: 5 laps of a 2k course.

After the completion of the second lap, the weakest half of the field are eliminated. Another half will be wiped out at the end of the third. Same again at the end of the fourth, until only the fastest and strongest 3 runners are competing head-to-head for the title of Xtreme Pursuit Champion!

ENTRY FEES: £16 Non Club Runner / £14 Club Runner / +£1 extra for “On The Day” Entries

The Xtreme Pursuit Challenge starts in 3 months, 27 days, 11 hours, 3 minutes, 33 seconds

You can Enter Online now.

• START TIME: 10.30am Sunday 15th September 2013
• STARTS & FINISHES AT: Sutton Park, Town Gate, Park Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2YT
• ENTRY FEE: £5 for 5K £10 for 10K
• INSURANCE: Full Public Liability
• TROPHIES: To First Male & First Female of 5K & 10K
• PRIZES: To First Two Males & First Two Females of 5K & 10K
• MEDALS & GOODIE BAGS: For All Finishers

SEE THE ROUTE

REGISTER

The Sutton Park 10k starts in 4 months, 10 days, 11 hours, 3 minutes, 33 seconds

The Tamworth 10k Oct 13th 2013

We reintroduced the Tamworth 10k with a new scenic route in October 2011 to many complimentary comments about how good the new route was. This year’s race will start and finish in the beautiful grounds surrounding Tamworth Castle and will wind its way through the grounds out into the town, then follow a canal section in Fazeley, before returning to the Castle Grounds. More info coming soon.

Event starts in 4 months, 25 days, 11 hours, 3 minutes, 33 seconds

You can Enter Online for the Tamworth 10K Now.

£16 standard Entry, £14 Club Member.

Event starts in 5 months, 22 days, 11 hours, 3 minutes, 33 seconds
You can Enter Online for the Kingsbury Water Park 10K Now.

£16 standard Entry, £14 Club Runner.

The 10k is an approximate distance due to the nature of the course and is a two lap race following a route that is mainly off road through magnificent scenery. Two laps of footpaths, grass tracks and a short tarmac section twisting around the lakes and pools of the water park, with a section alongside the river. Race start time is 10.30am.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Will runners please note that the distance for this event is an approximate 10k not a measured 10k, this is due to the nature of the terrain and the exact location of the course on the day depending on the weather conditions and other user groups effecting the course, our initial visits this last week have shown us that the usual off road route sections we use are already very churned up and very muddy so we recommend the following tips which may be useful:

• Be alert. If you come to a muddy patch of a trail, slow down and pay attention to where your feet land. Mud can be deceiving: What appears to be a shallow puddle could actually be a deep hole filled with thick mud.
• Tailor your steps to the consistency of the mud or dirt. If your route is soft or very wet mud, you should alter your steps and tread lightly. However, if the route is simply soft dirt or solid mud you can run more or less as you normally would, being aware that wetter, slicker patches could pop up along your route.
• Use your whole body to maintain your balance. Mud is notoriously slippery. Engage your core and use your arms to maintain your balance.
• Run on your toes through the wet patches. Running on your toes forces you to take smaller steps and puts less of your foot in the water or mud. Rely on this step in very wet areas, using your regular steps for the rest of your run.
• Consider running in trail shoes. Trail shoes are often heavier and have deeper, more stabilizing treads, making them a good option for running in sloppy conditions.
• Slow down. Running in mud, soft dirt or wet asphalt requires more energy than running in dry conditions. Give yourself a break and don’t push the pace too much when your route is less than ideal.

The one-off event created a lot of interest from a wide audience of people as Kevin Wilson of organisers KP Events explains:

“This idea came out of a notion that where could we stage a fun run that everyone, irrespective age, ability or standard, could take part in; and the idea to run it around the UK’s smallest park was born. We have engaged with our new friends in Portland Oregon, home of the World’s smallest park, Mill Ends Park in Portland, which we call a flowerpot but they insist, as Guinness World Records recognise it – as a park, therefore it is a park. The transatlantic banter has been hugely entertaining.

We now have the job of convincing Guinness World Records that we have set a new record and 400 people, from age 3 months to 93, from pushchair bound to wheelchair bound, from doctor to teacher to secretary to waiter to long distance lorry driver to nanny to pet poodle – have had a bunch of fun setting it!

The weather was perfect, Christ Church next door to the Park threw open its doors to provide refreshments for the crowd and spectators clapped, chanted, whooped and sang to create a fantastic atmosphere, even encouraging 3 tortoises from a house opposite the park to have their own mini fun run!!

News from Guinness will come in a few weeks; they may or may not recognise the World’s shortest fun run at Princes Park, but much fun was had in the attempt and a good amount of money raised for a good cause.

Use the links below to locate the photos that interest you and purchase prints online. You can also order a wide variety of memorabilia including, postcards, mugs, mouse mats, canvas prints, coasters, iPhone cases and more.

• PHOTO ID NUMBER FINDER
• VIEW PHOTO SLIDESHOW
• VIEW and PURCHASE PHOTOS

IN THE NEWS

DAILY MAIL ARTICLE (GOOD PHOTOS TOO)

BIRMINGHAM MAIL (GOOD PHOTOS TOO)

ALLINSON A WINNER BORN AND BREAD

Leicester Corinthian AC’s Daniel Allinson stormed to a straightforward win of the 3rd Waitrose Lichfield Half Marathon today in a gun to tape victory that saw him come home in a impressive 1:12:26. Locals were impressed when Lichfield running Club’s man in form Richard O’Sullivan flew the flag for the city by coming home second in a good time of 1:18:53 followed in third place by BRAT Club’s Brendan Fitzpatrick in 1:19:35. First female home was Spa Striders Jo Kirby in 1:31:24.

Kevin Wilson of organisers KP Events was pleased with how the event had gone: “Once again fantastic weather shone on the event literally, the temperature probably ideal and a cooling breeze to boot. Crowds round the route were bigger than ever especially in Whittington, Fradley and the finish on Stowe Field saw several hundred people turn out to cheer runners home, a great event for the city and the area, bigger and better in 2014″

Approx 20 Soldiers from the Mercian Regiment (formerly 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment) took part and have raised at least £2000 for their charity. The Mercian Regiment are to receive New Colours in a ceremony on the 6th June in Worcester. See full story.

The full results of this year’s Lichfield Half-Marathon are here.

First 3 Men’s Chip Times

1. DANIEL ALLINSON 01:12:26
2. RICHARD O’SULLIVAN 01:18:53
3. BRENDAN FITZGERALD 01:19:37

First 3 Women’s Chip Times

1. JO KIRBY 01:31:24
2. JENNY HALL 01:34:05
3. STEPHANIE ILSLEY 01:34:16

Use the links below to locate the photos that interest you and purchase prints online. You can also order a wide variety of memorabilia including, postcards, mugs, mouse mats, canvas prints, coasters, iPhone cases and a whole lot more.

• PHOTO ID NUMBER FINDER – Lichfield Half-Marathon 2013
• VIEW PHOTO SLIDESHOW – Lichfield Half-Marathon 2013
• VIEW and PURCHASE PHOTOS – Lichfield Half-Marathon 2013

55 PACES, 25 SECONDS, 1 WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

The Virgin Active “World’s Shortest Fun Run” World Record Attempt in Aid of The Local Charity “We Love Lichfield Fund”, Around Princes Park, Burntwood

ONLINE ENTRY NOW CLOSED – But you can register by emailing paul@kpevents so we can allocate a time slot to run your lap in.

KP Events are staging a World record attempt; the Virgin Active World’s shortest ‘fun run’ on Monday 6th May 2013 from 10am,  to raise money for the charity We Love Lichfield Fund. Sponsored by Virgin Active – health clubs, gyms, spas and tennis.

The fun run is around the UK’s smallest park – Princes Park off Church Road and Farewell Lane in Burntwood. There are lots of definitions of a ‘park’ but in essence it must be a fenced open space, not adjoined to a building and be solely used for recreation.

It will only take approx 55 strides to get around Princes Park, in approximately 25 seconds; and everyone who takes part will be a record holder, once it’s verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

To PLEDGE MONEY for the We Love Lichfield Fund when participating please click on ‘We Love Lichfield Fund’ logo on the right.

To help raise funds either Download a SPONSOR FORM OR use EasyFundRaising.org.uk

For more information contact Kevin Wilson at kevin@kpevents.net, 07971-100973.

For sponsorship opportunities contact louise@kpevents.net as media interest is expected to be high.

If you are a member of the Lichfield Virgin Active Lichfield Health and Racquet Club and would like to in the “Virgin Active Lichfield Team” for the Waitrose Lichfield half-marathon please ask for Sue Wright at reception 01543-266-700.

The Virgin Active World’s shortest fun run attempt forms part of a running-themed May bank holiday weekend across the Lichfield District staring with a running exhibition in the Three Spires Shopping Centre in Lichfield city centre on Saturday May 4th from 1pm. Then it’s the Lichfield Half Marathon on Sunday May 5th starting at 10:30a.m, and the Fun Run on Monday the 6th.

Kevin Wilson of KP Events said he dreamt the idea up after researching the World’s smallest park on the internet. He said: “Princes Park is a great attraction for the area and I thought it was the World’s smallest park but that honour is taken up by a grassed traffic island on a California freeway! Princes Park is the UK’s smallest park so this little strip of land would have another honour so we decided to launch a Guinness World record attempt to try and get between 500 and 1000 people to run or walk around it. Not only will participants become record-holders but they can also raise money for our favourite charity, the We Love Lichfield Fund, which in only its first two years raised over £150,000 for local projects.”

Simon Price, CEO of famous cutlery firm Arthur Price and a Patron of We Love Lichfield, said; “What a brilliant idea… another creative and unusual family fun event to add to the District’s extensive sporting calendar. I’m delighted that the organisers KP Events have chosen the We Love Lichfield Fund as its charity and I hope that lots of people can take part in what will be, even though only 55 steps, a fun occasion.”

GB 1500m international athlete Phil Clamp turned up at a snowy Princes Park last Friday (March 22nd) to lend his support to World Record attempt. Phil is hoping to represent GB at the World Veteran Athletic Championships in Rio this summer. Phil is pictured below racing Louise Sambrook of organisers KP Events round Princes Park. Phil said:

“What a fantastic idea, a fun run everybody can take part in and achieve, who knows, some people will do it, enjoy the experience and carry on to longer distances, and all in a fantastic cause too.”

About the ‘We Love Lichfield Fund’

We Love Lichfield, is a fund which raises money and then makes donations to voluntary groups only across the Lichfield District.

Launched in 2011, We Love Lichfield provides small grants to a wide range of projects based in the Lichfield District. It raises money by companies and individuals making donations or fund-raising and all money is invested through a permanent endowment fund by the Staffordshire Community Foundation, a registered charity, on behalf of We Love Lichfield in line with charity commission guidelines.

The interest and dividends earned on the invested money is then distributed by the We Love Lichfield Fund as small grants across the district. The beauty of this model is that it will provide a source of on-going funding that can be used for small grants, and larger grants as the fund grows, for many years to come.

The fund will consider all applications from local groups in need, aiming to do so twice a year.

Visit www.welovelichfield.com for more information or call the Staffordshire Community Foundation on 01782 683000 if you need further advice.

To PLEDGE MONEY money for We Love Lichfield when participating in the World’s Shortest Fun Run please click on We Love Lichfield Fund logo on the right.

Official Launch of The World’s Shortest Fun Run

Local dignitaries and council officers attended the official launch of the World’s Shortest Fun Run. Those in attendance were left to right

• Louise Sambrook, KP Events
• Rod Campbell, Burntwood Town Council Chair
• Sue Woodward, Burntwood Town Council
• Diane Evans, Burntwood Town Council
• Kevin Wilson, KP Events
• Paul Griffin, KP Events
• James Myers Park Ranger Lichfield District Council
• Ken Humphries, Lichfield District Council Chair
• Julian Fisher, We Love Lichfield
• Maureen Humphries, Lichfield District Council Chair Consort

The Waitrose Lichfield Half-Marathon 2013

PRE-ENTRY IS NOW CLOSED – watch this space for notification of any “On the day” space.

Entries received after the 25th April for the Half-marathon will NOT receive race numbers and info in the post. Collection on the day only. Please report to the registration desk. Thanks

• START TIME: 10.30am Sunday the 5th May 2013
• STARTS AT: King Edward VI School, Upper St. John Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire
• FINISHES AT: Stowe Fields. Lichfield
• ENTRY FEE: £20 Club Runner/ £22 Non Club Runner
• NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY (except Mini Marathon)
• INSURANCE: Full Public Liability
• GOODIE BAGS: for all finishers
• TROPHIES to first 3 men and first 3 women

Click MORE – for further information and route map

Half Marathon

The start area for the Waitrose Lichfield Half Marathon is King Edwards VI School in Lichfield, this is located on Upper St. John Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. Post Code for sat nav is WS14 9EE.

There will be plenty of parking at the venue, and signposts will be up. Please use these car parks and do not park on the local streets. Please arrive in good time and “ready to run” as changing is limited and we cannot provide shower facilities for the numbers involved.

Prizes will be awarded as soon as possible after the races. Trophies to first 3 men and first 3 women runners. Results will be published on the day or soon afterwards. Please note we will be using timing chips, so we can give accurate results. This chip is attached to the back of a runners race number.

See map below for the route. Please note: the half marathon will start with a rolling road block for the first 2 miles, at the back will be a sweeper vehicle, if runners fall behind this vehicle they’ll be expected to run on pavements where possible.

There is a train track crossing on the Half Marathon route and we are working with Network Rail to best manage this crossing on the day. In the unlikely event that trains need to be diverted through this crossing we have a team of timekeepers in place to manage that situation similar to how it is managed at the Leicester Marathon every year.

The finish line for the Half Marathon is situated on Stowe Fields off Stowe Rd near the city centre, Lichfield WS13 6AQ Staffordshire, West Midlands. This is also where our Mini Marathon is to be held. This is only just over a mile walk from the start, and where cars are parked. There is a free return coach service from Stowe Field back to King Edwards School.

WHITMORE WINS IN STYLE

RESULTS: Fradley 10k results are now available at www.stuweb.co.uk. 2k Results are below.

Charnwood AC’s Tom Whitmore won today’s Florette Fradley 10k (Sunday March 10th). In an exciting finish Whitmore managed to hold off the challenge of early pace setter Richard Burman of Coventry Godiva to win in an excellent time for the cold and windy conditions of 33:02, with Burman close behind in 33:08. Harvey Mequire was third home in 34:29.

The women’s race was won by Herne Hill Harrier Catherine Ansell in a fast time of 35:36 which was good enough to secure her 8th place overall. 2nd female was Marie Voice of Kenilworth Runners in 42:55 and 3rd was Nivette Mullan of Hinckley RC in 42:59.

Kevin Wilson of organisers KP Events was pleased with the outcome of the race especially in light of the desperately cold conditions and constant threat of heavier snow than the flurries that runners had to endure throughout; “We knew what to expect, we’d been on weather watch every hour from around 6pm on Saturday night before. We had warnings that the usual venue for parking  could be unavailable if the threatened snow materialised in any quantity so we had to have an 11th hour back up plan in place ready to be instigated if the worst happened. Thankfully it didn’t and those who turned up to race and spectate deserve massive thanks from all of us at KP events because today’s weather was horrible”

Buy Photos from the Florette Fradley 10K 10th March 2013

VIEW THUMBNAIL PHOTOS – Look at this pdf first to find the image numbers you are interested in, then click the link below to find them and purchase online.

VIEW and PURCHASE PHOTOS of the Fradley 10K 2013. Follow the link, locate images that interest you and purchase prints online. As well as ordering prints you can turn them into a wide variety of memorabilia including, postcards, mugs, mouse mats, canvas prints, coasters, iPhone cases and a whole lot more.