Traditional Boxing Day road race cancelled

CLEVEDON’S Boxing Day Road Race – a highlight in the town’s festive calendar – has been cancelled for the first time in its history.

Organisers of the race, which attracts hundreds of entries, have taken the painful decision to cancel it due to the coronavirus pandemic. They said that it would be impossible to organise it to comply with the current Government restrictions in place due to the pandemic.

The race is organised by Clevedon Athletic Club every Boxing Day and has been running for 43 years.

Clevedon Athletic Club chairman and race director Andy Heyes said: “These past few months have been a very testing time for all of us, and especially for all sports and training groups.

“Unfortunately as we now face a period of further restrictions and although it appears that England Athletics remain happy with the current level of organised training sessions, a return to organised racing looks to have taken a further step away.

“Therefore, unfortunately after several weeks of head-scratching for alternative methods of holding the event a decision has now been made to cancel this year’s Boxing Day Road Race – for the first time in the 43 years we have held the event.”

Mr Heyes said the cancellation was a break in a huge tradition for Clevedon. He added: “This is really sad news and breaks a huge tradition for Clevedon, but the logistics of holding the race in wave starts, implementing social distancing at the finish area, cancelling on-theday entries render the event virtually impossible to hold.”

It is hoped the race will return in 2021.