Taking place on Sunday 25 June at 9:30am, it will be the first time the 10k run has been held at this location. The single-lap course will take participants along a brand-new route through Panshanger Park’s woodlands and historic sites, situated between Hertford and Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
Among the sights offered on the route are the woodlands – popular grove, brocket hill, chisel shelf and garden wood – the orangery, the great oak tree, the river Mimram and the new Queen’s Wood, with the possibility of seeing the well-known Panshanger Park longhorn cattle.
The course is completely off-road, covering tracks and trails throughout the park. The 10k run will be timed using electronic chips in the racing bibs supplied, which will enable live results to be produced online. The route will be signposted using mile markers, with marshals and water stations along the way.
Participants will receive a unique sustainable finisher’s medal on completion and a downloadable finisher’s certificate. Additionally, there will be individual, age category and team awards.
On the day, there will also be an opportunity to join the 2k family fun run event which is open to 4 to fourteen-year-olds and starts at 9:40am.
Louise Smith, race organiser, said: “The Welwyn 10k organisers are very grateful and pleased to be holding the first ever 10k event at Panshanger Park. We’re delighted to be staging a one lap trail run that encompasses many of the historic and natural sights around the beautiful park. It has also given us the opportunity to bring back the 2k family fun run which proved very popular at our past events for many years.”
Michael Charlton, mineral estates manager for Tarmac, said: “We’re honoured to be hosting the Welwyn 10k run at Panshanger Park. With such wonderful views, wildlife habitats and historic sites along the route, I believe it will make a great choice of venue for this important and worthwhile event. I hope it is a fun filled day for everyone to enjoy and wish all the participants taking part the best of luck.”
The event is being sponsored by Tarmac and HRJ Foreman Laws, with proceeds being donated to the Welwyn Festival charities – which are local charities that provide support in the Welwyn area and wider Hertfordshire.
Registrations are open now at welwyn10k.org.uk, with early bird entries being £17 until midnight on 9 April (Easter Sunday) and then £20 thereafter. There are also discounts available for England Athletics affiliated runners. The 2k family fun run is £3 to enter and can be paid on the day.
