Entries open at 10am on Tuesday 11 May for the sixth running of the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10K 2021.
The much-loved race is set to return to the streets of Grimsby as a COVID-safe event for 2021.
As the lockdown lifts and it becomes safer for more activities to take place, the 2021 Ørsted Great Grimsby 10K will be one of the first major events to take place in the borough, but it will be very different to previous races.
The spectacular town event will take place on Sunday 18 July from Grimsby Town Hall, with a staggered start between 9am and 11am.
While many have taken up exercise and been enjoying the great outdoors throughout the pandemic, it is hoped the event, which is expected to sell out, will attract runners, old and new.
Race organisers Tape2Tape, working with headline sponsors Ørsted and North East Lincolnshire Council, are encouraging people to pull on their running shoes and join in. But you’ll have to be quick as race numbers have been reduced to 2,000 in order to keep the race as safe and socially distanced as possible.
COVID-Secure measures being put in place:
- Staggered start between 9am and 11am every two minutes – removing the mass gathering in the Town Hall Square area seen in previous years with two wave starts, and people will be spread out across the 10km route
- Reduce entry capacity by 50 per cent, with 2,000 participants
- Sanitiser stations at toilet facilities and the start and finish line
- Some stalls in People’s Park. Activities will return next year
- Race results will be based on chip times, not first past the finish line due to the staggered start. Winners will be recognised and awarded at a later date
- There will be one water station at the route’s halfway point, but people are strongly encouraged to bring their own water
Entries for the 2021 race will open at 10am on 11 May at www.greatgrimsby10k.com. Entry costs £22, or £20 for affiliated running club members. There will also be a virtual race for those who cannot make the day or do not wish to attend the physical event.
Lauren Little, stakeholder advisor at Ørsted, said: “It’s been a challenging year and the majority of people in the community have been affected by the pandemic in some way and our charity partners have been significantly impacted. But the sense of community spirit is one thing that has not been dampened and I know there is a great deal of motivation from local people to get back out there for the Grimsby 10k. A lot of focus is being put on making the event COVID-secure so we can all get together safely to help raise much needed funds.”
Tape2Tape race directors, Neil and Nicola Pattison, said: “We want to reassure residents and runners that we have put a lot of time and consideration into analysing all aspects of the race to make it as COVID-safe as possible and have also strictly followed the official UK Athletics guidance and advice from North East Lincolnshire Council’s Event Safety Advisory Group and Public Health.
“While the event will take place after 21 June when all restrictions are expected to be eased, we are mindful that we should still take precautions for such a popular and well-loved race that people have come to enjoy.
“It will be a very different event to what people have come to know over the last five years, but we cannot wait to be back to put on a great race for the people of North East Lincolnshire to be proud of.”
They added: “We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters for their continued backing through these difficult and uncertain times.”
Sponsors for the race include Ørsted, North East Lincolnshire Council, ENGIE, NAVIGO and Young’s, with more yet to be confirmed.
The race brings the community together to support local good causes, raising thousands of pounds for charities.
A £1 donation is made from every race entry into a fund shared between the event’s charity partners – Harbour Place, Marie Curie, St Andrews Hospice, The Health Tree Foundation, RNLI, Blue Lights Brigade and A Platform To Talk – a local community Facebook group that has been set up by local people to provide a platform for people to talk, seek help and gain advice for mental health issues. They will donate their share of the charity funds to the local Samaritans while they await full charitable status.
All the charities have 10 free places each. Runners can contact the charities direct if they would like to run for them.
In 2019, the race helped raise £18,500 directly for seven charities from race entries, fundraiser places and other initiatives.