Welcome to the website of The Great Skipton Santa Fun Run
The first Skipton Santa Fun Run took place in 2010, comprising a 5 kilometre route around Skipton, starting and finishing at Aireville Park. 400 runners, joggers and walkers young and old took part in the inaugural event, to raise money for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, Martin House Hospice and other local charities
Last year, the 14th Great Skipton Santa Fun Run, saw the streets of Skipton turned red by 1848 Santas, running, walking and wheel-chairing 5km or 3km routes, starting from Skipton High Street and taking in Aireville Park and Skipton Woods before finishing back on the High Street, to raise money for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice and other local charities.
Over the last 14 years, we have raised nearly £500,000
Photo: Ian Brinscombe
A record-breaking day for the 15th Great Skipton Santa Fun Run
It may have been a dull, drizzly Sunday morning, but it did not deter a record-breaking 2266 people, both young and old, from taking to the streets of Skipton for the 15th Great Skipton Santa Fun Run, organised by the Rotary Club of Skipton Craven, in association with Skipton Town Council as a precursor to the switching on of the Christmas lights later in the day.
After a lively warm-up session led by Emily Parkinson from No 45 Otley Street Personal Training, runners and walkers set off on a 5K route that took them through Aireville Park and then into the muddy Skipton Woods, emerging through the top gate of the woods on the Bailey to complete the final kilometre via Regent Road and Otley Road back to the High Street. Wheelchair users took a shorter 3k route through Aireville Park and back to the High Street via Coach Street and Swadford Street.
Rotarian David Squire, who was marshalling the exit from Skipton Woods said: “The first to pass through the gate were the ‘serious’ runners’ who appeared about 10 minutes after the start; and then followed a steady stream of runners, then walkers. Despite the conditions, they were all cheerful and clearly determined to complete the course. There were even two lads who were on their second lap!”
The first across the finish line was in 17.5 minutes, taking half a minute off the previous record.
Peter Ripley, Lead Organiser for the Fun Run said: “What a fantastic turnout for our 15th Fun Run! The weather was not perfect, but it didn’t seem to put anyone off, which is testament to the growing success of this annual pre-Christmas event which raises so much money for local charities. It’s too early to say how much we have raised but it will be a record of over E55k — we will reveal the amount raised early in the New Year.
There are lots of people to thank, especially Louise Close and her Team at Skipton Town Council for their continuing and enthusiastic support (and for inviting me to switch on the Christmas lights); to Your Skipton Radio for their tremendous support on the day; to our Gold Sponsors LA Comms, Fibrelite and Midgley Motors, and our 19 Silver Sponsors and 4 Bronze Sponsors whose contributions help towards the cost of running this event.
A special thank you must go to Andrew ‘Woody’ Wood, The Community Fundraising Manager at Manorlands Hospice who, every year since 2010, has been at the start and finish dressed in his Rudolph outfit, offering encouragement and his own unique commentary for the benefit of all participants.
To the many volunteer marshals around the route who ensure the safety of all the participants — thank you.
And, to all 2266 participants — well done, we hope you enjoyed it – see you next year!”
Scroll down to see list of 2024 Sponsors