TADCASTER 10 MILE – SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2022

posted in: Race Reports | 0

Eccleshill’s Claire Hern, Dan Jenkins and Robert Sutton this weekend traversed along the A64 to Tadcaster, just outside York. The Tadcaster 10 is unsurprisingly a 10 mile road race, established in 1983 by Tadcaster Methodist Church before current hosts Tadcaster Harriers had even been formed. The Harriers subsequently took it on and it was a fixture on the Summer calendar until the last race in 2002. This year’s event is the 26th time the event has been run (albeit with a bit of a gap in the middle and of course 2020 being scuppered by Covid!).

A little bit of history surrounding the race….Increasing beaurocracy , heavier traffic and a downturn in entries spelt the end for the race. At the height of it’s popularity in the late 1980’s it attracted nearly 1000 runners.The course record was set in the first race by Steve Anders, St Helens AC, at 48.07 and plenty of top class runners tried to better it, the closest being Colin Moore of Bingley in 48.37. Veroniqe Marot, an international athlete who represented Leeds City AC  set a mark for the ladies of 58.37 in the very first race. This was subsequently demolished by Lynn Everington of Stretford AC who ran 56.02 in 1987, coming 31st out of 735 finishers. The event was relaunched in 2016 but unfortunately the floods washed away the historic bridge, so the route had to be diverted over the viaduct.  The following years have seen a few alterations to the route, each time hopefully making it better each time.  

This 10 mile road race is run on fully closed roads, a drink station at half way along the route and there are medals for all finishers. It boasts quite a flat course, although there is a long steady climb around the half way mark, but it is billed as still ideal for those looking for a new 10 mile personal best  It is an accurate measured course and a UKA approved event with chip timing for accurate and quick results. Starting on St Josephs Street, the course begins with a 2km loop around Tadcaster Town Centre before heading East out towards the quiet country roads passing through Catterton, Healaugh and Wighill.  Claire Finished in 01:07:42, Dan 01:08:05 and Rob in 01:27:03. Well done Team!