At the World’s Shortest Fun Run world record attempt around the smallest park in the UK (Princes Park in Burntwood 19th Sept) scores and scores of wackily dressed ‘runners’ turned up to have fun and raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice. Their mascot, Alex Acorn, celebrated his first-ever fun run medal in style as he whizzed around the 55-step Park circumference with Steve Jones Chairman of sponsors Crown Highways in tow. His company being massive supporters of the hospice as their charity of choice.
The weather was wonderfully late summery and helped create the zany atmosphere and build a real buzz in the air. Gym instructors from Freedom Leisure Burntwood helped runners to warm up ready for their turn to run.
Radio WM did a live broadcast as the event started, and the staff of organisers KP Events ensured that the day went well and everyone had a great time.
Kevin Wilson of KP Events said he was happy with how things had gone: “This has to be my favourite KP Events event, anybody and everybody can do it and get a medal as a reward too! All entry fee income will go to Acorns Children’s Hospice which is great news, we hope it’ll become an annual event and become part of the cultural heritage of Lichfield and Burntwood areas”.
We’re out to break a World Record again! The 2021 Worlds Shortest Fun Run will take place in Princes Park, Farewell Lane, Burntwood Staffordshire WS7 9DP.
We’re starting at 12:30pm on Sunday the 19th, adult entry is £5 and child £2.50. Fancy dress encouraged. All profits will be donated to Acorns Childrens Hospice Charity.
KP Events have linked up with Strawberry Fields Farm and Coffee Shop in Coulter Lane Burntwood to offer people taking part in The World’s Shortest Fun Run the opportunity to access their fabulous array of food coffee and unique recipe smoothies at a 15% discount off their usual prices both before and after the run has taken place. Simply show your race number to staff to qualify for this generous discount offer!!
If you have friends or family with you just tell the staff who they are, so they all get the discount offer!! The site is literally around the corner from Prince’s Park with plenty of parking available.
You can book a table by calling 03337727403, demand is expected to be high, as Kevin Wilson of KP Events can vouch for, so book early.
Image above: 10k Fast Race top 3: Adam Peacock 2nd (94), Frank Baddick 1st (924) & Karl Welborn 3rd (95)
10k Fast Race top 3 – Louise Hackett 3rd (204), Sonia Samuels 1st (954) & Becky Timmins 2nd (128)
Huge congratulations to the Elite 10k Fast Race winner Frank Baddick (Newham & Essex Beagles) of the Florette Fradley 20k who came in with a very quick time of 31:13, followed by Adam Peacock (BRAT) at 31:38 in second place and Karl Welbourn (BRAT) at 31:55 in third.
First female across the finish line in the Elite 10k Fast race was Sonia Samuels (Sale Harriers) with a time of 34:03, followed by Becky Timmins (BRAT) at 37:43 and Louise Hackett (Wolves & Bilston) at 37:58.
10k Road Race – First female athlete home was Kelly Butler in 37:59 (54) followed by Rachel Burchell in 38:19 (394) and Vicky Baddick in 38:56 (549)10k Road Race – First home was Thomas Eustace in 35:54 (938) followed by Alex Seabright in 35:56 (1064) and Tom Potter in third in 36:01 (867)
Update with reference to current Government COVID regulations.
This year’s Fradley 10k will go ahead as planned (Sunday 4th July 2021), but with social distancing in place around the Start and Finish areas.
At 10.15 am we will start an elite race for any runner capable of a finish time of 35 minutes or less. If you fall into this category please contact Paul paul@kpevents.net or call 07947-698147.
Once these runners have completed 1 lap of the course, roughly 10.32 am, we will start groups of 30 runners, these runners will have space to socially distance from each other and from the next 30 runners 2 meters behind them. The next group of 30 will be set off after a 30 second time gap. We will continue with groups of 30 until all runners have crossed the start line. This will take roughly 15 minutes.
This will not affect your race time in any way. Your race starts when your race chip, attached to the back of your race number crosses the start line and ends when you cross the finish line.
KP Events are encouraging all participants to take a Covid lateral flow test before race day. If you are showing any symptoms or receive a positive result then please do not attend this event.
In addition
We are actively encouraging runners to walk to the start and back to the car park from the finish area after the race. This will take approximately ten minutes. However, if you choose to use courtesy buses then wear a face covering, and scan the QR code located on entry. This year there will be no bag drop. All of our marshals and staff will be issued with a face covering and PPE gloves. Hand sanitiser will be available to all in and around race HQ. Please scan KP Events QR code at these sanitiser stations. When overtaking another runner please maintain a one metre gap. Finally, we would ask runners to refrain from spitting or nasal clearance.
Please follow our marshals instructions at the start line and be patient.
We would ask you to leave the finish area as soon as possible on race completion and collecting your medal and goodies to avoid groups gathering.
Water supplier
A massive thank you to our friends and water sponsor at Roxane UK LTD. A new Aqua Pura natural mineral water in a 100% recycled bottle with new friendly flip cap. Even the label is recycled. Available for all runners at the Florette Fradley 10k.
Results from the Florette Fradley 10k will be posted immediately after the event at https://www.stuweb.co.uk, look for results Florette Fradley 10k Sunday July 4th.
The Florette Fradley 10K is a popular run and attracts around 1,000 entrants each year. Covering flat, country roads, it’s a great event for beginners and pros alike. The Fradley 10k has previously been nominated in the National Running Awards for the best 10k race for personal best times.
Existing registrations will be automatically transferred to this new date.
Due to the Coronavirus regulations, we had to reschedule the Florette Fradley 10k from the 7th March 2021 to Sunday the 4th July 2021. Anyone previously registered will automatically see that registration transferred to the new date. Covid-19 has had a significant impact on everyone, especially those in the events industry and charities who rely on donations from events such as these, so we hope you’ll support the new event date and help us make the event bigger and better than ever.
VENUE: Fradley Village, near Lichfield, Staffordshire
INSURANCE: Full public liability cover
MEDALS: To all finishers
TROPHIES: To first 3 men, first 3 ladies
Post code Start Line is WS13 8NL
CHANGES TO CAR PARKING ARRANGEMENTS
For the first time since it started 21 years ago, there will be NO PARKING in the usual farmer’s field in Church Lane in the village. This is due to unprecedented rainfall in 2020.
We are encouraging runners and friends/family to car share or arrange to be dropped off at Fradley Village Hall.
If you need to park, then please now exit the A38 at the Fradley park junction, and follow our signs to either Continental, Lancaster Rd WS13 8RY or Richard Winterton Auctioneers, Wood End Lane WS13 8NF.
Both of these car parks are just over one mile from the race start line. Here we will have the staff to assist you with parking and four mini coaches to convey you to the start line, and then back to your vehicle after the race.
The first bus will leave at 8.30am and the last bus will leave at 10am. Runners friends and family can walk to the start using the clearly signed walking route. This should take 10-15 minutes.
Parking in Fradley Village itself is to be avoided and there will be “NO PARKING” signs and cones in place at various points on or near the race route. We appreciate that this is a change in the usual arrangements.
If you have any enquires please contact race director Paul at paul@kpevents.net
Race times will be available soon after the race finishes at www.stuweb.com.
Olympian Sonia Samuels will be competing in the Fradley 10k
An Olympian and 2:28 marathoner, Sonia has competed at the highest international level since 1997, running in global championships on the track and road. We are pleased to announce that Sonia will be running the Fradley 10k 2021.
Read more about our World’s Shortest Fun Run 19th Sept 2021 HERE. It will take place in Princes Park, Farewell Lane, Burntwood, and you can apply to join in.
In early 2019 KP Events were approached by independent creative agency One Black Bear based in Birmingham to help them produce a video of their client National Express to promote a social media campaign National Express called National Wonders where many of the UK’s more quirky and even ‘odd’ places to visit and their research led them to find our Worlds Shortest Fun Run around the UK’s smallest park Prince’s Park in Burntwood!!
What followed was a video shoot at the Park with KP Events main men Kevin (whose idea it was back in 2013) and Paul meeting the very eccentric reporter and video commentator called Ben to produce a suitably fitting and ‘tongue in cheek’ celebration of this unique and quirky park, still the world’s smallest in KP Events’ eyes as opposed to the ‘glorified flowerpot ‘ situated on the Portland freeway in the USA. So we thought you’d like to see it. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!
Trafford AC’s Tom Charles came home in first place at the Florette Fradley 10k (Sun March 8th) sprinting his way around the 2 lap course on a dry blustery day in a time of 32:07.
In 2nd place was Karl Welbourne (BRAT) close behind Charles in 32:19 with Lee Gratton(Rugeley Runners) in 3rd at 32:25.
First female home was Beth Tabor in 39:31 with Natalie Lawrence second in 39:50 and Marie Matthews (Kenilworth Runners) third in 39:57.
Charles was delighted with his victory: “I enjoyed the race today my first time at FRADLEY and easy to see why it’s so popular!! Well organised and the course is flat inviting a PB and I was pleased with my time today. Like to be back to defend next year!!”
