Weardale’s most popular sporting event on the starting blocks again
A VERY popular sporting event is gearing up for its sixth annual run which will take place on August
24 th this year.
The Stanhope 10 Miler is just what it says on the tin – a ten-mile run around the mid-Dale of
Stanhope. It was inaugurated by firefighter, Kieran Hughes, in 2019 after the apparently abrupt
halting of the annual Weardale Triathlon.
Kieran, who is the Watch Manager of Stanhope fire station in his spare time, said “I set it up on a
whim, really because the local Triathlon was stopped, which left no such events in Stanhope. It was
an opportunity to provide something involving running for local people and also to raise money for
charity.”
The Tribe Freedom Foundation was Kieran’s first choice – a charity that aims to stop modern
slavery in this country. The people of the Dale were inspired and as some of them were already
runners, many in training for the Great North Run that took place a few weeks afterwards, the first
event was fairly well attended. Kieran was delighted with the success of the event with a good
turnout of runners and many volunteers en route to ensure everything went well.
He decided that because the event was so successful and enjoyed by so many, he would make it
annual event but within a few months, the world reverberated to the tune of Covid 19 and
everything stopped – or was put on hold.
Kieran, however, wasn’t going to be put off. The Dale needed this event more than ever.
“We managed to run the event through Covid but I had to think on my feet of how this would be
done with all the restrictions in place,” he said. “I used a time trial to set everyone off in timed
blocks then amalgamated the times together.”
And so the 10 Miler has continued every year since its inception with not even a worldwide
pandemic stopping it!
This year’s event, as always, will begin in Stanhope in the heart of the Durham Dales. Runners –
and walkers because the event has incorporated a walking section for those who either don’t want
to run or can’t – will take the hard descent up (Killing Me) Softly Bank towards Bollihope reaching a
height of 1300ft. They will move on to Hill End before making its way back through Stanhope and
concluding at Stanhope Show field.
Along the route, participants can take in the breath-taking views of the dales with 90% of the run
taking place on road and the other 10% on grass/trail. All participants pay to enter with the proceeds
going to two local charities – The Tribe Foundation and Quinn’s Retreat. Four years ago, Kieran
decided to support the suicide charity, Quinn’s Retreat, founded by Tracey and David Beadle from
Shildon. The couple lost both of their children to suicide and they offer a holiday home for families
who have been bereaved by suicide.
To date, the event has raised £18,000 with every penny going to those who need it most.
The 6 th annual Stanhope Ten Miler will take place on Bank Holiday Sunday – August 24 th – with the
walkers setting off at 9am and runners following at 10am. Every year, it grows larger so this is your
opportunity to keep fit, enjoy views of the Dale at its very best and aid charities along the way.
Tickets are on sale now at : Stanhope 10 Miler 2025 – RaceBest
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS AN OPEN ROAD RUN AND ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RUN AT THEIR OWN RISK
