Runners prepare for Dewsbury 10K road race on Sunday

Among the 850 runners will be a number of men who have clocked 10K times of between 30 and 31 minutes.

The record for the men’s race is 29 minutes 7 seconds set by Spencer Newport in 1998. Runners taking part on Sunday include No 392 Richard Kay (Tipton); 413 Jonathan Wills (Bristol & West); 945 Richard Brown (Lincoln Wellington); 1018 Andy Ward (Clowne Road Runners) and 1044 Adam Peers (Liverpool Harriers).

Another to watch out for is No 28 Carl Thackery, now aged 49, (Hallamshire Harriers) he is the British record holder for 15K, 20K and for one hour’s running, all set at a single race in France in 1990.

Carl was third in the World Half Marathon Championship in 1993 and he is likely to run about 32 to 33 minutes.

Other contenders are 323 Michael Williams (Leeds City); 452 Julian Lings (Enfield & Haringey); 528 Iain Tweddle (North Shields Poly) and 1022 Alan Buckley (Leeds City).

The women are chasing a record of 33.06 set by Penny Thackray in 2001. The likely candidates are: No 416 Helen Singleton (Wakefield Harriers) and 424 Sarah Hood (Tipton Harriers) both have recorded sub-35 minute times.

Others in the running are 466 Sarah Bostwick (Wakefield Harriers); 517 Kelly Crickmore (Chester Tri); 687 Yamuna Thiru (Elswick); 1043 Katie McHale (Wakefield Harriers) and 1081 Lorraine Smith (Holmfirth Harriers).

Entry has closed and there are no entries on the day.

There will be severe disruption to traffic on and around the A652 Bradford Road between Dewsbury and Birstall.

The race starts at 9am and the first runners will finish at about 9.30am the last runners are expected to cross the line at about 10.20am.

Drivers are advised to avoid routes which either cross or use Bradford Road and to use alternative routes via Dewsbury or via Birstall.

The race is sponsored by Al-Murad Tiles and Disken and Co solicitors and is supported by Batley Resource Centre, Earlsheaton Technology College, 21th Dewsbury Guides, Ice Valley, SMK Sports (Cleckheaton and Keighley), Calder Screenprint and Dewsbury Sports Centre, which is also the headquarters for the race.

The race is a big fundraiser and the charities to benefit this year will include the Mayor’s appeal for the Forget-me-Not Children’s Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support and the PHAB North Kirklees youth club. Last year’s race raised about £3,000 for charity.

See next week’s edition and our website for a race report and pictures.