Bradford 10k Sees Record Broken and Thousands Take to the Streets
The Bradford 10k returned after a year’s break, attracting over 1,200 runners from Yorkshire and beyond to take part in the city’s biggest road race. According to Epilepsy Action, the event saw a jubilant atmosphere as runners were set off at 9:30am. The Telegraph & Argus reports that the route this year was the flattest it has ever been, starting in the new pedestrianised streets of the city centre, moving along Canal Road to Shipley, before reversing back on itself and ending outside City Hall.
The conditions were ripe for a course record to be broken, with the long-standing record of 31 minutes and two seconds, set by Tesfaye Debele in 2013, in the sights of the competitors. Jack Cummings, from the Ilkley Harriers, was the man who achieved the feat, crossing the line with a time of 30:47 – 15 seconds off the previous record. "I didn’t know it had actually been stood since 2013 so that now feels even better," Cummings said. "I’m over the moon with it, I saw the course record, what I thought it was, that was my one goal today, just go out and see if I could get anywhere near it really."
Cummings was followed by Jake Ridding, from Sunderland Harriers & AC, in second place, and Callum Zorn-Singh in third. The women’s race saw Rachel Friend take the top spot, finishing with a time of 37:56, followed by Luci Robertson in second and Margaret Beever in third. The event also saw a first for the Bradford 10k, with a wheelchair participant taking part. Stephan Couture and his daughter Chloe completed the race together, with Stephan pushing Chloe in a wheelchair all the way.
"It was absolutely wonderful," Stephan Couture said. "It’s been an awesome event. We’re very proud of ourselves – we do absolutely everything together. This year we’ve done Paris marathon, London marathon and Manchester marathon. It’s so important for disabled people to be able to take part in these events, as it’s such an amazing feeling for that person." The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Mohammed Shafiq, was also in attendance to show his support for the event.
The Bradford 10k has a long history of supporting a great cause, with over £600,000 raised for Epilepsy Action since the first race in 2008. More than 16,000 people have crossed the finish line in that time. Louise McCormick, Bradford 10k Race Director, said: "It was fantastic to see so many people out this morning, taking part in the race. There was such a buzz at the start line, with everyone gathered waiting, and this continued as all of our runners returned to the finish, back in Centenary Square."
The event was a huge success, with a new course record set and hundreds of runners and spectators inspired by the participation of a wheelchair entrant. As the Bradford 10k continues to grow and support the local community, it’s clear that this event will remain a highlight of the sporting calendar for years to come. The Telegraph & Argus will continue to provide updates and coverage of local events, bringing you the latest news and developments from across the region.
