Esmé Kenney

The 30th annual Percy Pud 10k was cancelled the morning it was meant to start after the area was hit by heavy snow overnight. 

The race, which is organised by the Steel City Striders, was due to take place on Sunday 3 December at Loxley Valley, with over 3000 runners taking part.

It was postponed to the following Sunday.

Clive Downing, 61, from Hillsborough, was taking part to raise money for St Luke’s in memory of his daughter Faye, who died of breast cancer in August 2022 aged 29. 

He also fundraises for the Alzheimer’s Society, after his wife Jayne, who passed away in June, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 52. 

He said: “It would be lovely to run in these conditions, but health and safety comes before anything.

“Years ago they would have run it, but not nowadays.”

The only other instance of the race being cancelled due to snow was in 2019.

Before the race was postponed, one of the founders, Alan Barnett, 78, from Rivelin, said he decided to hold the race in December because he thought it would be a one-off event.

“Without doubt it’s one of the most popular races in Sheffield,” he said. “It’s like getting a ticket to Glastonbury.

“We can’t get any bigger. All we can hope to do is sustain it as it is.” 

Traditionally, runners who cross the finishing line receive a free Christmas pudding.

Adam McAuley, 54, from Hillsborough, was one of many volunteers from the Steel City Striders who helped set up the race on Saturday. 
“It’s like a military operation,” he said. “Even the logistics of things like the Christmas puddings are crazy.”

Many runners thanked the organising committee for “making the correct call” on the Steel City Striders Facebook page.

Although the terms and conditions state that they cannot refund their tickets, they can transfer their tickets to someone else if they cannot make the new time. 

Clive joined the Steel City Striders to help cope with working while caring for Jayne full-time.

Clive took part in the Sheffield 10k for St Luke’s in September (Source: Clive Downing)

Through various fundraisers, he has raised over £28,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society and almost £5,500 for St. Luke’s. 

He said: “I’d dread to think what would have happened if I didn’t run.

“It was never my goal to raise thousands and thousands, it’s just something that keeps me going.”

The organisers were contacted for updated comments.

This article was written for an assessment, and formed part of a distinction-graded module.