August 2008:
The date for the 2009 Millennium Way Relay has been set for Sunday, 14 June 2009.
Race Report 2008:
Pudsey & Bramley showed their fell-running dominance with a record-breaking win in Sunday’s Bradford Millennium Way Relay. Their 5hr 31min 22sec for the five-leg 47-mile route knocked five minutes off their own course record. Jamie Noon and Paul Stephenson, on leg 2 from near Oxenhope to Laycock, and Steve Neal and Richard Pattinson on the final leg from Ilkley to Bingley both managed leg records in what were ideal conditions.
The relay saw the first appearance of a team from Airedale Athletics, drawing on runners from Bradford-Airedale, Eccleshill Road Runners, Skyrac and St Bede’s. Will Kerr and Stephen Broadbent stormed the first leg to hand-over in second place. The team’s final position of sixth in a time of 6hr 11min 13sec would have won the race some years. Defending champions, Keighley & Craven, worked their way through to finish second in a club record of 5hr 55min 59sec. Ilkley Harriers smashed their club record in third, also breaking the 6-hour barrier. Keighley were consoled by winning the ladies’ and vets’ prizes, whilst Ilkley won the mixed team, with Sarah Jarvis and Marc Teasey anchoring the team in a club-record final leg. Marc thanked the organisers afterwards, "A fantastic day and another excellent event. The balance between informality and good organisation is well struck, the course is always a pleasure to run on and the marshals/helpers were friendly, encouraging and supportive throughout." A record 42 teams took part. Emergencies led to some doubling up. Bingley’s Stephen Fry ran the third fastest time for leg 4 (from Silsden to Ilkley) before helping out Dutch team, Oldambt, on their final leg.
The four continental teams were hosted for the long weekend by organisers, St Bede’s. They stayed at the Greenwood Centre in Eccleshill and Nell Bank in Ilkley. Belgian newcomer, Viki Matheussen, said, "We’re going to organise a group to come and walk the course and really take in the amazing countryside".
Financial summary:
Organiser, Jack Verity, had reduced costs to what seems a bare minimum. With the record number of teams and, despite not having been successful (for the first time) with acquiring a grant from the Bradford Council Community Chest, the event made a small surplus.
Results 2008: Full results from the 2008 event, and the club-by-club and leg-by-leg results are now available on the Results page.
August 2007:
The date for the 2008 Millennium Way Relay has been set for Sunday, 15 June 2008.
Race Report 2007: We wish first to record our thanks to our partners and sponsors:
• Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Community Chest
• Filtronic, Saltaire
• Powerwave, Saltaire
• Royal Springs, Keighley
• Nell Bank Centre, Ilkley
• Greenwood Centre, Swain House
• Sportshoes Unlimited, Bradford
• The Complete Runner, Ben Rhydding
• Green’s Health and Fitness, Shipley
• Bradford & Bingley SC, Beckfoot
Sporting summary:
• The number of teams entered was substantially down on 2006 (33 instead of 40) and down on the budgeted projection of 45. The date in 2007 was one week later than previous years, partly to accommodate the school years of the overseas teams. However, this unfortunately produced a clash with a fell race in Skipton and, more importantly, the Jane Tomlinson 10k in Leeds. This prevented at least 5 existing teams competing and one new club from sending a couple of teams. In 2008 we will revert to the earlier weekend, 15 June. This clash could not have been foreseen because the Jane Tomlinson event was only approved in the spring.
• The wet but hot spring led to very high undergrowth and slow, sometimes treacherous, running conditions. Pudsey & Bramley (2006 winners) were one of the casualties of the clash of dates. Both factors led to overall times being slower in 2007.
Financial summary:
• The lower than projected number of teams reduced income by £960. This was compensated by close attention to costs, in particular reduced expenditure on:
• Mementos, namely t-shirts, by finding an alternative supplier in Sheffield.
• The prizes were subsidised through replacing sweatshirts by vouchers provided by Sportshoes Unlimited and The Complete Runner.
• Increasing contributions from the overseas teams.
• Two of the three weekend social events were free of cost to the organisation – the Friday evening meal was paid by participants themselves; and the Sunday evening barbecue at Greens was paid by Greens.
• The overall balance, pending a few outstanding invoices (for minibus hire and minor administrative costs) suggests a deficit of £41. The £400 BMDC grant was therefore essential to ensure the event’s continuance; a deficit of £441 would have led the Treasurer to calling for the event’s cancellation. This figure also does not include the payments-in-kind by Green’s and Royal Spring.
• The prize-giving also permitted payments of £250 to be made to each of two local charities who benefited from the combined surplus on the BMW Relay and the John Carr 5k Series: Bingley Blind Social Centre and Bradford Cancer Support’s Daisy Appeal. The former used the money to offer a special trip in July to their clients.
Media coverage:
• There was a two-page article in the Telegraph & Argus immediately after the event, with full coverage, photos, and name-checks for many of the sponsors. See the printed article for 25 June 2007 which was uploaded to their website on 26 June 2007: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/athletics/display.var.1498728.0.ilkley_ladies_reclaim_millennium_way_relay_title.php
• There was a detailed photo reportage on the website of one of our overseas partners, which shows Bradford district in an excellent light: http://www.afstandslopers.be/albums%202007/BMWR%202007/index.html
Promotion of the district and the Millennium Way path:
• Several overseas individuals want to make a walking holiday of the BMW path. They need guidance on B&Bs and recommended accommodation adjacent to the route. We plan to add advice for this (and a sample itinerary based on flights from Amsterdam to Yeadon) on the race website.
• Both overseas groups approved of Nell Bank and the Greenwood Centre; to this end we have reserved both locations immediately for next year. The Dutch expect to provide two teams in 2008, so Greenwood will also be full from then.
• Appreciation from the teams from East Lancashire suggests a higher number of teams from there in future.
Lessons for 2008:
• The event was only approved by the Treasurer on condition that a £1000 donation was made in January to cover cashflow due to the Nell Bank invoice needing to be paid in advance. This was also to serve as an underwriting against potential financial loss. In the event, this was repaid fully and the small deficit borne by the club.
• The overseas partner clubs are willing to pay whatever it costs St Bede’s to put on the weekend in a sustainable way. It is impractical to distinguish between those individuals or groups who have provided reciprocal hospitality (though in future we should charge any new overseas teams the ‘full rate’ until such time as they are consider full ‘partners’). The full rate may be €110, and the current €50 contribution may need to be increased to €70 or €80 in 2008. This fee needs to be confirmed by October/November since flights become available in December.
• To minimise potential antagonism it may be advisable to notify farmers or residents in advance that the event is taking place. And to have lists of phone numbers in case of problems (e.g. sheep seen in a culvert approaching Leeming Reservoir).
• Runners seemed to really enjoy the ‘Tour de France mountain stage’ atmosphere, particularly during stiff climbs. This atmosphere was provided by the overseas teams who followed the race around by minibus. They loved the chance to see the varying landscape.
Changes for 2008:
• The club intends to approach the Yorkshire Vets Athletic Association to make the event a team off-road championship. This is a way of attracting teams from outside West Yorkshire – particularly from Leeds, Humberside and South Yorkshire. In this way we expect to increase the participation up to the current maximum of 50 teams.
• To minimise pressures on villages and streets at changeovers, we plan to encourage clubs to follow the example of the overseas teams in using a minibus to follow the team around the entire course, dropping off and collecting runners at each changeover point.
Appreciation:
• ‘Many thanks to you and all at St Bede's - another excellent day. See you next year!’ – David Nicholls (Chapel Allerton Road Runners)
• ‘I wanted to congratulate you on a fantastic event. We all enjoyed the day, especially winning the mixed team prize. I think you have it just right: Fantastic route - Good selection of teams, including the foreign teams. I like the idea off cut-off times, it is a good target to aim for and makes good racing on the legs when teams set off together. Thanks again and see you next year.’ - Graham Morris (Accrington Road Runners)
• From a runner who ran the whole course in 10hours 14 mins: ‘I thought the course was fantastic although once I lost touch with the other runners (after leg 2 as I missed the mass start of leg 3) I slowed considerably as I had to find my way using the instructions from your site (very good by the way - thanks to whoever did them). Finally let me say thanks to all the organisers - you guys do a great job with this event and I hope its popularity continues to grow.’ - Andy Nicoll
Results 2007: Full results from the 2007 event, and the club-by-club and leg-by-leg results are now available on the Results page.
August 2006:
Race Report 2006: The 2006 Bradford Millennium Way Relay was the fifth running of the event and marked a sizeable step forward in organisational complexity and quality, in three respects:
• The number of participating teams jumped 33% from 30 to 40 (that is, 400 runners over the five-legs); more significantly, the number of overseas teams increased from one to four, with a team from the Netherlands competing for the first time and two new teams from Belgium.
• The participation for St Bede’s of two international guest runners from New Zealand, Dale Summerville and Paul Hamblyn (who had recently come 4th in the Commonwealth Games 1500m in Melbourne).
• The participation not only of some of the leading clubs in northern England, but their putting out extremely strong teams.
The effect of all these three welcome developments is outlined below.
Hospitality: With over forty overseas guests it was no longer possible to offer home hospitality. Instead they were housed at the Greenwood Youth and Community Centre in Eccleshill, and the Baildon district Scout campsite, Sconce. This was a huge advance in complexity of organisation, in terms of providing:
• four minibuses throughout the weekend.
• catering – breakfast and evening meals, and snacks.
• entertainment for the entire weekend.
In addition there were teams from east Lancashire competing.
The weekend entertainment comprised the following programme:
Friday:
• Meeting at Yeadon airport, Friday mid-morning, with snack lunch at Sconce
• Recce of routes for the race, during the Friday afternoon
• Shower and use of pool and facilities at Green’s gym, Baildon, followed by a buffet dinner with the compliments of Green’s.
Saturday:
• Training for the elite athletes at Cleckheaton track
• Morning visit to Bradford city centre
• Afternoon visit to the Mela
• Evening pasta party hosted by St Bede’s in Baildon Copper Beech Club.
Sunday:
• Pre-race – photographs and reports by the Telegraph & Argus
• Daytime – the race, with minibus shuttles around the course
• Prize-giving – presentations from the various sponsors (Pace, Filtronic) and by the NZ internationals
• Evening – barbecue and campfire.
Monday:
• Trip to Haworth
• Late afternoon departure from Yeadon airport.
It is worth recording the positive feedback from all the overseas guests – in particular we should record the comments about the positive multicultural integration the Belgians and Dutch noted between the various communities at the Mela. Perhaps less surprising was the positive feedback about the local countryside, Haworth and the vicinity.
The race proper took place in ideal conditions (whereas several previous years had been in unusually hot temperatures). Notwithstanding, there were course and leg records overall. On leg 1 there was a dead-heat in a record time between Pudsey & Bramley and the Belgian “Flanders Running Team”. On leg 4, the New Zealanders guesting for St Bede’s also smashed the leg record. On other legs, and particularly in the overall times, the team from Pudsey & Bramley obliterated previous times for the event.
• Pudsey & Bramley won the Open event, followed by Bingley Harriers, Pudsey Pacers, Horsforth Harriers and St Bede’s.
• Valley Striders from Leeds won the Over35s (Vets) race, but probably only due to an unfortunate injury to one of the ‘Flanders Running Team’ members on the final leg, where he stubbed his toe badly on a rock on Ilkley Moor and required subsequent hospital attention.
• Bingley Ladies held off Ilkley Ladies in a competitive race in the women’s section.
• Chapel Allerton won the Mixed title – Valley Striders being defeated for the first time in this category, but a wonderfully elated team from a young club deserved their victory.
Volunteers: The demands on St Bede’s volunteers were extremely high. It is calculated that over 45 volunteers are required over the weekend, many doing multiple tasks. Nevertheless, the satisfaction from the new friendships made with overseas teams, the general delight from many participating teams to make the acquaintance of top international athletes from abroad, and especially the impressive coverage by the T&A was a repayment for all the effort.
• Colin Huntley, the founder and chief organiser of the event, had to step down from the event in the autumn, due to serious ill-health of his daughter. This has required a substantial recasting of duties, but has also meant a thorough analysis of what volunteers are required.
• For 2007 we expect to have the assistance of volunteers from partner athletics clubs, Bradford Airedale and Eccleshill Road Runners.
The press coverage was formidable. In the midst of the football World Cup, Brazil was knocked off the front and back pages of the T&A Sports Supplement for a two-age spread on the Millennium Way Relay. However, as a result of this new relationship, St Bede’s has, almost weekly, an article in either the Sports Section of the T&A on Mondays, or as features within their monthly Health supplement.
Finances: The main negative feature of the 2006 event was the financial out-turn. The budget for hosting the overseas teams was clearly misjudged. This led to an overall deficit of nearly £700, made good from other St Bede’s funds. It was also exacerbated by an overbilling by Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club, the host clubhouse. The £500 error has not been included in the accounts below, but has been rectified through a credit note. As a result of this shortfall, a serious evaluation was made of the event. The analysis was that the shortfall was not a recurrent feature, but it would require the following corrective steps:
• Reduction in costs and hospitality offered to overseas teams, and an increase in charges required by them
• Savings on expenditure on prizes, through gifts in kind and sponsorship
• An increase in sponsorship (cash or kind).
Key targets for the 2007 event are as follows:
• Financial consolidation and break-even, partly through cost-savings and partly through increasing the number of sponsors
• Raising number of teams to 45, with a maximum of 50, and particularly increasing teams from east Lancashire and Cumbria
• Limiting overseas teams in 2007 to three, and ensuring that the hospitality and arrangements work smoothly and sustainably, given the volunteers available
• Integrating assistance from partner clubs, Bradford Airedale and Eccleshill Road Runners
• A new management team for the event, with greater use of volunteer help.
Results 2006: Full results from the 2006 event, and the club-by-club and leg-by-leg results are now available on the Results page.
June 2005:
The date for the 2006 Millennium Way Relay has been set for Sunday, 18 June 2006.
Results 2005: Full results from the 2005 event, and the club-by-club and leg-by-leg results are now available on the Results page.
July 2004:
The date for the 2005 Millennium Way Relay is set for Sunday, 19 June 2005.
Results 2004: Full results from the 2004 event, and the club-by-club and leg-by-leg results are now available on the Results page. We've also added lists of the leading teams per category since the race's inception in 2002.
Winners 2004: Keighley & Craven won the Open (men's) race to retain the trophy but were 14 minutes slower than last year. For the third year running Wakefield won the Vets trophy and Valley Striders the Mixed trophy. Keighley & Craven completed a double by taking the Ladies prize.
Race Report 2004: The third running of the Bradford Millennium Way relay was held on Sunday 13 July 2004 in warm, sunny conditions (ca. 22C with a fairly strong SW wind). A record 25 teams had entered and set off (and completed). There were three new leg records and excellent times in each category were recorded, particularly on the opening two legs; times for the remaining three legs were generally down on earlier years. The standard of the various Ladies teams seems, however, to be rising appreciably each year and there were some superb performances by women competing in the Ladies and Mixed events.
On the first leg Abbey Men in Alex Grant and Jonathan Healey set a new record in 1:17'46" and were closely followed by the Valley Striders mixed team of Lisa Wilyman and Steve Webb. Wakefield Vets were the first vets team in 7th place and Ilkley led the ladies race in 11th position overall.
On the second leg Pudsey Pacers' Neil Armitage and Gary Bailey set a new record in 1:08'55". In the overall lead though were Wakefield Vets team, followed by their men's team. Unfortunately neither of these two teams' third leg runners were ready when they arrived. There were two rumours at the finish. Either they were warming up before running or they were sat in the shade of a tree cooling down! Valley Striders' mixed team was still in contention in third place overall and Ilkley Ladies maintained their lead. One other minor incident at this leg: one of the teams running the third leg hadn't appeared by the time the runners went on the cut-off and left some 33 minutes late.
On the third leg the Keighley and Craven pairing of Ben Green and Paul Crabtree set the fastest time, pulling their team up to second place but still four minutes down on new race leaders Horsforth Harriers. The other three competitions kept the same leaders. At the end of leg three we had some issues with one of the occupants of the house near the handover point but the rest of the neighbours were quite helpful.
Leg 4 saw Valley Striders' Alan Hutchinson and Andrew Cutts setting the fastest time but Horsforth maintained a lead of just two minutes over a rapidly closing Keighley team intent on retaining their title. Wakefield Vets had moved up into third place another two minutes down. Valley Striders' mixed team were holding off Pudsey & Bramley's challenge but Keighley Ladies had overtaken their Ilkley counterparts.
On the fifth and final leg Keighley's Chris Loftus and Jo Wogden set another record of 1:16'40" to pull ahead of Horsforth and retain their title. Wakefield Vets, Valley Striders' mixed team and Keighley Ladies all maintained their positions to take the remaining prizes.
We again welcomed our friends from Belgian club Atletiek Vosselaar as our international competition, as well as our colleagues from over the Pennines.
January 2004:
The date for the 2004 Millennium Way Relay is Sunday, 13 June 2004.
The website now has a results table showing club-by-club records and leg-by-leg records.
The website is now taking a multilingual shape in order to encourage more overseas teams to enter. An illustrated Glossary is provided to explain the local features of the landscape and the terminology used (particularly where this differs from other English dialects).
The Glossary and other parts of the site have been translated into Dutch. Parts of the course description are also now in Dutch - thanks to the assistance of Eddy Sneyders. In due course the course descriptions and other parts of the site will be fully translated. It is hoped to expand this service to other languages in future.
The members of the current Organising committee are available to assist with enquiries concerning the event.
Dates of uploads:
1 February 2008
1 October 2005
1 July 2005
1 September 2004
1 July 2004
1 June 2004
1 May 2004
1 April 2004
1 March 2004
Original upload - 20 February 2004