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Runners Set To Descend On Wirral For Weekend Of Races

THE 3 races, Wirral 10K, Wirral ½ Marathon and Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral, are organised and delivered by Hoylake-based BTR Liverpool. Limited entries are still available. The events start with the 3 race series 26 mile Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral, which comprises a hat trick of running events of different distance and terrain over three days. This is the fifth year of the Wirral Tour event.

The Wirral Tourists begin their challenge, at 7pm, on Friday, 6 September 2019, with a 5 mile off road race in Arrowe Park. This is followed the next morning, at 10am, with eight challenging multi terrain miles through Thurstaston Country Park and beach and along the Wirral Way. On Sunday, they join the wider race field to take part in the 13.1 mile Wirral ½ Marathon.

The 7th annual BTR Wirral ½ Marathon and BTR Wirral 10K start, at 9.30am, on Sunday, 8 September 2019, from The Dips in New Brighton. This is the 3d year the 10K and ½ Marathon have started at The Dips. They have previously started at Birkenhead Park, but the route was changed due to ongoing traffic works. The new routes have been retained.

Sunday's races will be officially started by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Tony Smith, an avid runner. He will be joined by his wife and Mayoress, Barbara Smith. The Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral will be joined by an Everton Football Club Ambassador, representing club charity, Everton in the Community. A number of runners will wear the colours of Everton as they take part on behalf of the charity. There will also be an Everton in the Community pop-up raising awareness and funds for The People's Place, the charity's mental health focused fundraising campaign to develop and build a purpose built mental health facility close to Goodison Park. Charity merchandise will be available to purchase.

After crossing the start line at The Dips, the 10K and ½ Marathon runners will head along the promenade to Seacombe Ferry, before returning to New Brighton passing Fort Perch Rock, along Ian Fraser Walk to the Clown Roundabout. The 10K runners then finish at Coastal Drive, while the ½ Marathon runners continue towards the Leasowe Lighthouse before also returning to Coastal Drive to cross the finish line. All finishers will receive a commemorative medal and T-shirt to mark their achievement.

Runners taking part in the 10K or ½ Marathon also have the chance to collect an extra medal by taking part in the free PB challenge. Runners need to register in advance through the BTR website.

Sunday's event will be supported by volunteer teams from Everton in the Community and Claire House Children's Hospice.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region. Its portfolio also includes the long established BTR Liverpool ½ Marathon, which marks its 27th event in March 2020; Port Sunlight Road Race 5K and 10K; BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K; 52 mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside; and the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash, the UK's biggest festive fun run.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell commented:- "The Wirral race weekend is growing each year, and we're delighted to welcome Wirral's Mayor and Mayoress to officially start Sunday's races. A weekend of consecutive running on challenging terrains is no mean feat but I am sure those taking on the Whistle Stop Tour Of Wirral challenge will give each race their all. Wirral is a fantastic backdrop for races and I'd encourage residents to come along and cheer on the runners, it makes a huge difference as they clock up those miles and head to the finish line."

FACT FILE:- The BTR Wirral ½ Marathon and 10K was named Event Of The Year 2015 at the Wirral Tour Awards.

Local Schools encouraged to apply for free outdoor learning resources

AS children across the country return to the classroom, local Schools are being encouraged to apply for up to ₤500 worth of free outdoor learning resources to allow youngsters to get hands on with nature.

Applications for the Local School Nature Grants are open from now up until the 22 November 2019 from the charity Learning through Landscapes, which is distributing ₤550,000 of funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery, with funds being awarded from Postcode Local Trust.

Through the programme, Learning through Landscapes wants to transform the way we currently think of outdoor education and show the learning and play potential that exists within all School grounds regardless of their setting and outdoor spaces, empowering teachers to be able to take the teaching of any curriculum subject outdoors.

As well as receiving up to ₤500 worth of outdoor resources of their choosing, School staff will also receive a two-hour training session on how to get the most out of the equipment. The learning resources and the training sessions available are entirely customisable; meaning infant, primary and secondary Schools can choose which items will best suit their learners and the setting that they will be delivered in. The programme is also open to special Schools and pupil referral units.

Applications are being actively encouraged from Schools whose pupils are aged 5+ and are passionate about making environmental improvements for the benefit of their pupils, staff and the community.

Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said:- "Given that children in Britain spend an average of just 16 minutes a day exploring in parks and the countryside[1], I'm delighted that players of People's Postcode Lottery are supporting this programme enabling children of all ages to get outside and I'd urge Schools to take advantage of this opportunity and get an application in."

For more information and to apply for funding, please visit Learning through Landscapes' website.