Chesterfield celebrates Beat the Street success
More than 13,800 people took part in Beat the Street Chesterfield and together walked, cycled, ran and wheeled 143,132 miles. The game was scheduled to last until 8 April, but organisers brought the game to an end early amid the outbreak of Covid-19.
The winning teams are as follows:
Schools – total points:
- Brockwell Junior School
- Whitecotes Primary School
- Highfield Hall Primary School
Schools – average points:
- Brockwell Junior School
- Whitecotes Primary School
- Brockwell Nursery and Infant School
Community and workplace – total points:
- Jog Derbyshire Chesterfield
- Rother Community Group
- Poolsbrook parkrun Supermen
Community and workplace-average points:
- Jog Derbyshire Chesterfield
- Poolsbrook parkrun Supermen
- Rother Community Group
Charities – total points:
- Fairplay
Small teams- total points:
- Velotastic
Small teams – average points:
- Wheely Fun Wheels
Individual tapper:
- Gavla38
Unfortunately, the planned celebratory event will now not take place; winning teams will receive their prizes by post or email. Players are invited to keep hold of their cards and fobs for now as they may be useful for future special events and one-off activities. If these events go ahead, they will be publicised on social media and Chesterfield Borough Council’s website.
Jo Lenthall, PE Lead at Brockwell Junior School, winners of the schools leaderboards for both total and average points said the school would be using their prize vouchers to buy new playtime equipment for the children plus looking into how most of the vouchers could be used to support charities that may be struggling during this difficult time.
Jo added: “We, as a whole community, have absolutely loved participating in Best the Street. It has brought the community closer together as we have cycled, run and walked together. We have spent more time with our families and made new friends as we have become fitter and healthier. Beat the Street started off as a fun competition but soon turned into an addictive obsession. We are all sorry to see it come to an end but many have said that they will swap their cars for their bikes and will walk instead of ride. All have said that positive changes have occurred from participating in Beat the Street.
“Many thanks to all at Beat the Street.”
Speaking about the initiative, Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Congratulations to all the winning teams in Beat the Street and well done to every person who participated. Together you all reached an incredible distance of more than 143,000 miles before the game sadly had to be ended early for understandable reasons.”
“We hope you have enjoyed getting around Chesterfield, have explored new areas and chatted to people you haven’t met before. I know that I have discovered walkways and alleyways I didn’t know existed and I certainly feel fitter.”
“Once life returns to normal, we hope the game will encourage people to rethink how they travel around and that walking or cycling to school or work is a fun, free alternative to using the car.”
One participant managed to tap every one of the 119 Beat Boxes in the game. Graham Voss and his dog Benji played for Hady Primary School and became minor celebrities while out tapping all of the Beat Boxes by bike and on foot.
He said: “Over 14 days, we have walked and cycled 93 miles and covered every one of the Beat Boxes at least once.”
“We are well chuffed to have visited every Beat Box. Throughout our journeys we have seen estates we would never have seen, parks we never knew existed despite living here for twelve years, and cycle routes across town to most neighbourhoods through interesting areas.”
“Beat the Street is the best thing ever to happen to Chesterfield. Never has there been so many children, parents, individuals on the streets, roads of Chesterfield and surrounding area. It is the most talked about subject at the moment and we will certainly miss it when it ends, though we will continue our bike rides and walks around the Peaks and newly found routes around Chesterfield.”
“Thank you all so much for the hard work and meticulous planning that must have gone into this project.”
Libby Hawkins, local coordinator for Beat the Street Chesterfield, added: “Now, more than ever, it’s essential to keep building your immune system to ensure your body is as strong as possible to fight the virus, which you can with regular exercise where possible.
“We’ll still be on hand with a new programme called #BeatTheBug where you can sign up for newsletters containing hints, tips and advice on how you and your family can stay fit, get active, reduce stress and have fun at home. There will be regular Beat the Bug advice and Q&A sessions with our founder, Dr William Bird MBE, who is a doctor working on the NHS frontline, an expert in physical activity and an advisor to the World Health Organisation and Public Health England.”
Players are invited to give their feedback about the Beat the Street Chesterfield game at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DTPQGSJ where participants are in with a chance of winning more prizes.
Beat the Street was delivered by Intelligent Health in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and is funded as part of a £3.3 million National Lottery grant through Sport England and Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership.
