Percy Pud 10km : 2010 Race Report
Sunday 12th December 2010

Percy Pud beats the snow

Andy Ward (Clowne AC) and Alice Cordwell (Hallamshire Harriers) successfully defended their respective trophies in 2010 Percy Pud 10km race which finally took place in the Loxley Valley on Sunday 12th December, one week later than first planned.

The original date fell victim to the excessive snow which had fallen in Sheffield in the days leading to it (see photo right) and the decision was taken on the Thursday prior to race day to postpone the race by a week. Thankfully there was break in the weather and the race took place on a cold but still morning.

Over 1,000 runners, including ex-Spots minister Richard Cabourn, still managed to make the rearranged date, well short of the expected turn out, but perhaps understandable given the unpredictable weather and the proximity to christmas. All finishers received the traditional christmas pudding for their efforts.

Several hundred christmas pudding were left over at the end of the race and these have now been donated to several local charities who cater for homeless people at christmas. (see article below)

Andy Ward - first man	Alice Cordwell - first women	Christmas pudding!
Photos above are reproduced courtsey of Flaming Photography - see their website for more photos and links to the You tube videos of the race.

Charities get their just desserts

What a plum idea! Organisers of Sheffield's annual Percy Pud 10km race have donated hundreds of Christmas puddings to city charities after being lumbered with the festive desserts.

The Steel City Striders Running Club traditionally gives away a Christmas pudding to everyone who competes in the 10km road race around Loxley. But after snow forced this year's challenge to be rescheduled from December 5 to the Sunday after, roughly a third of contestants dropped out. That meant the club had about 600 puddings in storage – or, more specifically, in race director Richard Dunk's garage.

"So we thought the best thing to do, what with it being Christmas and all, would be to give them away," he says.

"It was a bit disheartening for the club because obviously we like a big turn out for the race. But it's nice to turn things around and make this a positive.

"The charities we're giving to all have a real impact in Sheffield and it's great to be able to do our bit help them. Hopefully, it means the puddings will be enjoyed by hundreds of people who otherwise might not have a proper Christmas dessert."

The puddings will be divided between the Salvation Army, St Luke's Hospice and HARC (Homeless and Roofless at Christmas). Plums-up to that.

(Reproduced courtesy of The Sheffield Star)