This is the 4th running of the trail 10K run in memory of Gareth Dunn and this is the third race in the Eccleshill Summer championships. A stunning Summer morning greeted runners at the Cookridge Village Scout Hall where the race registration, warm up and bag drop were all conveniently located. There were two runs on offer on the day, a scenic 10K trail race starting at 9.30am and a one mile Fun Run which kicked off proceedings at 9.00am. A buzz surrounded the children’s event as CBeebies presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star, George Webster, set off the fun run before taking part in the 10k run himself! Both races start and finish at the Cookridge Village Scout Hall on Pinfold Lane, off Otley Road. It’s a multi-terrain course containing one grass hill halfway round the route. Exiting via a narrow lane next to the Cookridge Village Scout Hall on Pinfold Lane, the run goes down the Lane and around Paul’s Pond in an anti-clockwise direction then into Golden Acre Park, following the path in an anti-clockwise direction and passing the nature reserve to the right. The challenging route continues on this path and then moves onto a boggy, grassed area (think PECO start) and up the hill towards the Arthington Road car park. More trail path and then a challenging jaunt through the woods, looking out for roots underfoot. Runners then completed a loop of the main path, before a clockwise circuit of the lake. It was then a case of retracing the route back to the finish at the scout hut. Mud-clad finishers were rewarded with a Gerbera, a tee shirt, medal, re-usable water bottle, a bamboo toothbrush and an energy bar! All proceeds of this fabulous event go to Cancer Research UK and local children’s charities. First home for ERR was Martin Steele (15 points) 60:51, followed b Julie Steele (15 points) 61:11 and Sarah Myers (14 points) 70:07
