Father Christmas arrived earlier than expected on Merseyside this year as runners took to the skies to mark the 10th anniversary of the Liverpool Santa Dash.
Ten of this year’s runners took on the Liverpool Wire, the city centre’s latest attraction on Church Street. The zip wire has been in the city since early August and sees adrenaline junkies descend from the 115ft tower at speeds of up to 40mph while shoppers bustle below.
Alan Rothwell, BTR Race Director, told JMU Journalism: “The Liverpool Wire is a fun and exciting way to remind people that the 10th anniversary BTR Santa Dash is well on its way.
“It has grown incrementally from a very modest 2,000 in 2004 to around the 10,000 so with the anniversary being 10 years this year, we would like to get more than 10,000.”
The Liverpool Santa Dash, staged by organisers BTR Liverpool, takes place every December. Despite the five-figure crowds at last year’s event, the Scouse total was narrowly beaten to the world record by US rivals, the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, which had an extra 902 festive participants.
Eamonn Brady, 48, of Walton described his experience on the zip wire as “absolutely brilliant” and “exhilarating”.
He told JMU Journalism: “I’ve done the Santa Dash a couple of times now and it’s a great event. We nearly broke the record last year, it was really close. It would be nice for Liverpool to have the record because we are always in competition with Las Vegas.”
Last year the Santa Dash was recognised nationally when it was named as Best Fun Run runner-up in The Running Awards 2014.
Gillian Verdin, 22, of Liverpool, also took part in Thursday’s city centre event. She said: “It was really good to go up and represent BTR for the Santa Dash because it is a great event. It always gets everyone in the mood for Christmas.”
This year’s event will be held on Sunday 7th December. Entries are now officially open for the 5km fun run and also a 1km ‘mini dash’ for youngsters.
Early bird entry is £22 before November 8th and £27 thereafter. Mini dash places are £11.
Full details about the Liverpool Santa Dash and how to enter can be found here: www.btrliverpool.com.