FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RUNNERS CHRISTEN NEW ATHLETICS TRACK
More than 140 runners took part in last Saturday’s ‘Scarborough Mile’ as part of a day of sport and celebrations to open the new Bramcote Athletics Track. The runners, aged from seven to 70-plus, completed four laps of the 400m track in blazing sunshine and temperatures of up to 28C.
Steve Cram cut a ribbon to declare the track open before firing the starting gun for the first wave of mile-runners, who set off from in front of the refurbished sports pavilion cheered by a crowd of around 200. After completing their laps, runners queued to have a chat and a photo with the legend of British athletics.
The track, between Filey Road and South Cliff, is to be shared between the independent school Scarborough College, on whose land it sits, and the community. It has been funded by Scarborough firm Broadland Properties Ltd (BPL) to the tune of £1m.
Cram said: “I’ve been blown away this afternoon to see everyone taking part. This was only the second track I’ve ever opened as it’s more usual to see tracks closing than opening, and the story I’ve learnt today [of how the track came to be built] is phenomenal.”
Members from several local running clubs took part in the mile, including Scarborough Athletic Club (SAC), Vale of York Club, Bridlington Road Harriers and City of York Harriers. On Saturday morning, children from Scarborough College and other local schools in Scarborough and surrounding areas, took part in the community team heptathlon event which featured jumping, throwing and running.
Scarborough College will use the track during school hours in term-time. The timetable for community use in the evening and at weekends will be managed by athletics development officer and coach Zach Harrop, who is based at the track.
Harrop says: “Scarborough Athletic Club have booked for a Thursday evening session and our Bramcote Athletics Academy, which is open to all, starts on 18 September, four evenings a week, with each one-hour session costing £5. For local schools, we are looking to host a summer league and some specific area events. The great thing is that tracks are shared spaces so different groups can use it at the same time. The training circles for shot put and discus have now arrived as well as the incredible new high jump landing area.”
Yorkshire-based sports consultant Andy Pope, who worked on the project from the outset, said: “To have this community facility in a town the size of Scarborough is unique. We hope it will become a hub of physical activity.”
At least 30 of Saturday’s mile-runners were from Scarborough Athletic Club.
David Field, SAC chairman, says he hopes the facility will galvanise junior membership as well as prompt SAC members to pursue the field disciplines. He added: “You can use a track to train for all distances but it will probably be most popular for shorter distances, up to 10k. I hope we will become an integral part of the track.”
The track is certified by UK Athletics, which means not only that it can hold licensed competitions, but that if a record is broken there, it stands. It was built by S&C Slatter, which made the Commonwealth Games track in Birmingham. Its all-weather surface is designed to reduce fatigue and the risk of injury.
Harrop’s fellow coach Julian Reid, who will work at the track part-time, is a long jump and triple jump athlete, coach and four-time British champion based at the University of Birmingham.
“So many big names in sport have come from this part of the country and now there’s an opportunity for more young athletes to start their journey in Yorkshire,” says Reid. “The facility has everything for people to begin and continue the athletic journey.”
Richard Guthrie, a director at BPL, said: “We’re going to get youngsters straight out of the pram and onto the track. In 10 years, Steve Cram is going to be talking about the North Riding on the BBC – about all the young athletes who’ve started out on the Yorkshire Coast.
For more information and to book sessions in the evening at the track for either individual, club or groups, please contact Zach Harrop on zach.harrop@scarboroughcollege.co.uk or phone 01723 344415.
scarboroughcollege.co.uk/bramcote-athletics-track
**ENDS**
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
- Photos from Zoe Harrison, marketing manager at Scarborough College (zoe.harrison@scarboroughcollege.co.uk; 01723 360620)
- Zach Harrop, athletics development officer (zach.harrop@scarboroughcollege.co.uk; 01723 344415) can be contacted for further comment. Further quotes from various people involved in the project available on request.
- Bramcote Prep School occupied the site from 1983 to 2012, when the school merged with Scarborough College. The College sold the Bramcote main building (now Sycamore Court McCarthy & Stone, Filey Road) and retained the playing fields and sports hall. Part of the sports hall has been remodelled into changing rooms, an office and a viewing area.
- The idea for the track came from former Scarborough College headmaster Charles Ellison and school governor Richard Guthrie of Broadland Properties Ltd (BPL). The BPL group has fully funded the building of the track, as well as funding the post of athletics development officer.
