CHRISTMAS HANDICAP

Held on a club night just before Christmas, this unique event gives every runner an equal shot at glory, thanks to a carefully calculated handicap system that levels the playing field across ages and abilities.

Since 2003, the race has followed a 4.5-mile course starting on the Thornes Park track, looping twice around the park’s perimeter, and finishing with a final 400m flourish back on the track. It’s a route that’s seen standout performances from club legends like Mark Bostock (22:04 course record, 2021) and Helen Singleton (25:15 ladies’ record, 2008), with Nathan Elliott and Helen both dominating the fastest-time honours in recent years.

With over 200 runners having taken part since the course was standardised, the Christmas Handicap is more than just a race — it’s a celebration of community, tradition, and the joy of running together. Even in 2020, when Covid restrictions turned it into a virtual event, the spirit of the race endured.

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