New Chesterfield running event launched
A brand-new running event will be coming to Chesterfield town centre after organisers confirmed that the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon would not take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The all-new Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k will take place at 10 am on 17 October 2021, starting from Queen’s Park.
It will replace the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, with the expectation that the ‘more accessible’ 10k distance will increase runner participation and in turn, increase charity partner revenue while supporting the health and wellbeing of local people.
All entries into the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon and Peak FM Five Mile Run have automatically been deferred to the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.
Runners also have the opportunity to donate the difference in their entry fee to the 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon charity partners, Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, in response to their work in the local area during the Covid-19 crisis.
Event organisers will be contacting all runners who have entered the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon to date with further details. Entry fee refunds can be requested.
Full entry into the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k will cost £22.50, with Early Bird entry priced at £18 and available until 28 February 2021.
As its name suggests, the Redbrik Foundation will be a new charity partner of the 10k event, alongside Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
The Redbrik Foundation is a newly formed charitable trust which will support a number of local organisations each year, primarily seeking to enhance the lives of children and young people, the elderly or vulnerable and those with disabilities.
Meanwhile, event organisers will confirm plans soon for ‘virtual’ events taking place in Chesterfield over the original weekend of the 2020 event, designed for runners who were hoping to take part in the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon and its partner events the Peak FM Five Mile Run and Pronto Paints Well Being Challenge.
An all-new 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k route will be announced in the coming months and will be the first time a 10km event takes place in Chesterfield town centre.
The route will start and finish in Queens Park and will be centred on the heart of Chesterfield, taking in major landmarks such as the town’s famous crooked spire. It will also feature service and cheer stations on the course and will have a later 10am start.
John Timms, Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k Event Director, said: “Naturally, we are extremely disappointed at the cancellation of the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Under the current guidance available, we as organisers feel that it is in the best interest and safety of all involved to cancel this year’s event.
“However, this has given us a unique opportunity to analyse the success of the Redbrik Half, as well as areas which can be further improved and developed, together with our event partners.
“We have launched the 10k event with a view to further enhancing the experience of both participants and the local community, and ways of generating even more revenue for the event’s charity partners, with almost £150,000 raised by the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon to date.
“As event organisers, we once again want to thank event sponsors and partners, and the wider community for their support since the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon launched in 2017.
“We want to thank our key partners, including Redbrik, as well as Chesterfield Borough Council. They have been very supportive throughout this process and we look forward to building on the Redbrik Half’s success with the new 10K.”
Mark Ross, Trustee of the Redbrik Foundation, said: “We love Chesterfield, and we want to see the town, its people and its businesses thrive.
“With this in mind, we’re excited to launch the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k. We are all very disappointed that this year’s Redbrik Half could not take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, we’re delighted to be bringing this new event to the town.
“The local community has supported the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon since its inception, and with a new route and additional event partners, we can’t wait to see the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k develop.”
Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We’re disappointed that the Redbrik Half Marathon cannot go ahead on this occasion, but we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors back to Chesterfield next year to take part in the 10k.
“The route for the 10k will start and finish in the Queen’s Park. It will take in some of Chesterfield’s major landmarks and will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the town to runners and visitors.
“We hope that lots of our residents will join us in supporting this great event by either taking part or coming along to cheer on the runners in 2021.”
