Date set for town’s big race

It will help fill a major sporting hole for the town since the Mansfield Half Marathon was cancelled in 2012 due to spiralling costs over health and safety after it had been a popular fixture for more than 30 years.

Previous organisers, the voluntary Road Race Committee, said it had simply become unsustainable.

Main organiser of the new 10k, Anna Joyce from Reach Learning Disability, is excited at the prospect and said: “This has been a long time in the planning but it has all been worthwhile.

“With great support from Mansfield District Council, Nottinghamshire Police, the Highways Department and the Mansfield Town Centre team, we are now in a position to start accepting entries for the event.”

The race route consists of two 5k circuits of the town centre, starting at Titchfield Park at 9.30am with a unique finish in Mansfield market place.

The inaugural race is being professionally organised by a team of experts who were involved with the Mansfield Half Marathon for over 15 years.

The 10k has also attracted and secured Nottingham-based event specialists Perfect Motion, who are responsible for multiple races around the country including the annual Cycle Live and Great Notts Bike Ride.

The event has been made possible by a collaboration of Reach, Mansfield 2020 Business Development group, Mansfield Harriers and Mansfield District Council.

Mansfield 2020’s operations manager, Caroline Cox, said: “This is a unique town centre route that will showcase what we have to offer.

“We know this event will bring hundreds of people into our town centre either to run or just spectate and this is a fantastic opportunity to show off our business community with opportunities available for all including sponsorship, corporate teams, special offers for runners and spectators, hospitality and much more.”

Harriers chairman Pat Carlan said ‘If we secure the interest we are hoping for there is no doubt this race will become a permanent annual fixture for the town’s event calendar.

“There are enormously successful 10k events in places like Derby and Lincoln. At just over six miles, a 10k is achievable by many who may not be able to tackle a half or a full marathon.

“The event is a perfect fit for the town’s health and well being strategy and the race has already been chosen to become the Notts AAA County Championship for 2015.”

This event is estimated to raise tens of thousands for local charities with more and more people taking a proactive approach to fundraising and it will boost the local economy by encouraging and attracting a diverse range of people to the town that wouldn’t ordinarily visit.

The organisers would be very interested in speaking to potential sponsors of the event who can contact Caroline Cox on 01623 422010.

Anyone interested in volunteering on the race day or leading up to the event can contact Anna at Reach on 01623 819066

To secure your place in Mansfield Town’s first ever town centre 10K, runners can visit www.mansfield10k.co.uk or for further information contact Anna on the above number.