Charities find their luck is in as 13th Leeds 10K delivers a cash boost

The 13^th running of the Asda Foundation Leeds 10K was today hailed a great success as thousands of runners crossed the finish line to hand local charities a major funding boost.

City centre streets were a blaze of colour as participants of all abilities tackled the flat, fast course raising tens of thousands of pounds for good causes. Since its launch in 2007 the event has raised over two million pounds.

The event is the original legacy run of the late Jane Tomlinson, who took on a series of endurance challenges to raise nearly £2m for charity despite battling terminal cancer. Jane died soon after launching the 10K and over the past 12 years it has grown into a highlight on the city’s running calendar.

Starting in Vicar Lane, the runners received fantastic support from the spectators who lined the route which took the field past the Corn Exchange, along Call Lane, past the railway station, through City Square, along Wellington Street and on to Kirkstall Road before turning around at Savins Mill Way and back to the city centre and the big finish in The Headrow.

The wheelchair race was won by Nathan Maguire in 22mins 29secs. Sean Frame clocked 25mins 04secs to take second place with Anton Shepherd third in 25mins 26secs. Hannah Cockroft took top spot for the females with a time of 27mins 40secs.

The first male to cross the line and take winning title of the 10K was Scott Hinchcliffe in 31mins 29secs. Marcos Angel Valero Palacios clocked 31mins 54 secs to take second place with Gareth Jooste third in 31mins 57secs.

Nik Tarrega won the women’s race with a time of 38mins 06secs. Aisling Wall was second in 38mins 23secs and Sarah Hunter took third place in 38mins 28secs.

Mandy Hepworth, co-ordinator of the Asda Foundation, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in making the Asda Foundation Leeds 10K such a great success. It is always very inspiring to see so many people take on this challenge in aid of some excellent causes. Well done to all the runners.”

Tristan Batley-Kyle, head of events at Run For All, organiser of the event, said: “The response to the Leeds 10K never ceases to amaze us. The runners and spectators again turned out in force and we are especially grateful to the many volunteers who work so hard to ensure the runners have a safe and enjoyable event.”

The field also included hundreds of businessmen and women taking part in the Clarion Leeds 10K Corporate Challenge, in which companies and other organisations compete for the title of fastest firm in the race. The results will be announced later.

Roger Hutton, joint managing partner with law firm Clarion, said: “All the teams enjoy the friendly rivalry of the Corporate Challenge and it was marvellous to see so many firms taking part. Well done to all the finishers, particularly those raising money for charity.”

The Asda Foundation Leeds 10K partner charities are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind Leeds, Sue Ryder, Martin House Children’s Hospice, St George’s Crypt, Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal, Candlelighters, People In Action and Brain Tumour Research and Support.

The 10K is sponsored by the Asda Foundation, Leeds City Council, Active Leeds, Heart, Aftershokz, Runderwear, Arla Protein, Motorpoint, Sano Physiotherapy, High5, Leeds Beckett University and LTS.