34th Anniversary Xmas Pudding Fun Run 2019
WOODLAWN & NORTH SHIELDS POLY 34th ANNIVERSARY XMAS PUDDING FUN RUN 2019
WHO Hundreds of runners of all abilities and ages
WHEN Boxing Day Thursday 26th December 10.30am
Race registration from 9.30am in the Comrades Club / Number collection (from online entries) from the shelter opposite.
WHERE On 3 miles/5 kilometres of Whitley Bay Links’ footpaths, starting and finishing at the War Memorial on the Links opposite The Spanish City.
RUNNERS Race fees: £8 (eight pounds) for adults; £4 (four pounds) for under 16s. Pre-entry available via www.Racebest.com#Woodlawnpuddingrun
REWARDS Every competitor finishing the Run will receive a Christmas Pudding and a certificate.
If the weather is so bad police and forecasters advise against travelling then the organisers will understand and expect runners to use common sense.
STARTER
Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell, who starts the race every year, says “I am delighted to have been asked once again to start the annual Xmas Pudding Fun Run and to be able to support Woodlawn School. It is a great community event, an opportunity to run off the excesses of the day before and all in a good cause. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part and to come to the Links to watch and support the event.”
WARM DRINKS
The Comrades Club will be open so that runners, supporters and organisers will be able to buy a warming drink before, during or after the Run.
ABOUT THE RUN
Last year 1318 (one thousand three hundred and eighteen) people took part in the Woodlawn Xmas Pudding Fun Run, breaking all records for runners. That was a 24% increase on 2017’s 1066 runners.
A team from North Shields Polytechnic Athletic Club and Friends of Woodlawn have packed 1500 Start Fitness bags with individual puddings and certificates, courtesy of Potts Printers, ready for Boxing Day.
Woodlawn’s Xmas Pudding Fun Run has taken place on all but two Boxing Days since 1985. Snow and ice saw one Run postponed to February and another cancelled altogether. Horizontal rain and gales are not seen as excuses for not taking part. The Run has become such a feature of Christmas on North Tyneside that for many families it is what they do on Boxing Day.
Runners range in age from under eight to over eighty. Some people take the chance of a break from the in-laws. More than one baby has had an exciting and swift Boxing Day buggy ride. Some people do it in fancy dress with Santas of both sexes, Rudolphs and gift-wrapped boxes taking part. Serious club runners make it part of their training schedule.
Over seven hundred people took part in the Run in 2012. This increased to 811 in 2013 and 850 in 2014. Boxing Day 2015 was wet and cold and only 744 hardy souls ran. In 2016 there were 883 runners. The thousand runner barrier was broken in 2017 with 1066 people taking part. Last year, 2018, it was a record breaking 1318.
ORGANISERS AND SUPPORTERS
North Shields Poly is a Charity based in Whitley Bay with an aim of increasing participation in sport in North Tynside. Woodlawn, in Drumoyne Gardens, West Monkseaton, is a school for children from 2 to 18 years old with physical, medical and sensory needs. Children come to Woodlawn School from all over North Tyneside.
The annual Fun Run is jointly organised by the Friends of Woodlawn School and North Shields Polytechnic Athletic Club, and supported by Start Fitness. Potts Printers have provided the certificates and posters publicising the Run. The organisers also appreciate the help, advice and support of the Comrades Club Committee, and the Events officers of North Tyneside Council in organising the race – including turning out on Boxing Day morning.
WEBLINKS
http://www.woodlawn.org.uk/
http://www.nspoly.co.uk/
http://www.startfitness.co.uk/default.asp
http://www.potts.co.uk/
http://www.alancampbellmp.co.uk/
MEDIA CONTACTS
John Brettell, North Shields Polytechnic Athletics Club 07766744651
Brenda M Boyd, Friends of Woodlawn on 0771 253 7605
Gill Wilson, Head Teacher Woodlawn School on 0191 643 2590.
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