Wow! The Liverpool Santa Dash community are a keen bunch Once again you always pull it out of the bag. The pictures have been flooding in since yesterday capturing the Liverpool Santa Dash in all its splendor!

Plus many more…….!

Have you got any? Send them to me: scousepr@yahoo.co.uk

View the rest here

A funny anecdote has also been sent in……

Would just like to let you know that Jonathan Lamb and Bob Knowles of Wigan, who were on their 3rd Santa Dash together, had a funny incident this year. Bob Knowles is in a wheelchair and Jonathan pushes him around this course. Bob forgot to put the footplates on his chair this year so after about 3km the wheelchair ran over one of Bobs false legs that had fallen off after Bob caught his heel on the floor! This caused a lot of laughter and a few puzzled faces as Bob reattached his false leg.
A bit further on it fell off again! A tyre also came off when the chair hit a rut and had to be refitted by a helpful passing Santa, so all in all it was a very eventful run this year and an even more memorable one. They are both looking forward to Santa Dash 2011.

Many of you will have noticed a number of blue Santas in the 2009 Santa Dash. There were around 300 Evertonians running in their favourite colour on behalf of the Everton Foundation and this year there will be once again a limited number of blue suits.

If you wish to run in a blue Santa suit and run on behalf of the Everton Foundation then please download the special Everton Foundation Entry Form when you enter.

If you want a BLUE SUIT Entry Form please click the image below:

Your details will be passed to Rowena Finn at the Everton Foundation or alternatively you can contact her directly if you would like more information about Everton Foundation charity work and their involvement with the Santa Dash.

Blue suits are limited to 500 so please enter early to ensure you get one!
Rowena can be contacted on 0151 530 5260 or by email at rowena.finn@evertonfc.com

Yes – the Liverpool Santa Dash is back again and in 2010 we are targeting 10,000 entries to ensure we get the World Santa Challenge title back from Las Vegas.

In 2009 we were beaten by just a few Santas and it was hugely disappointing to see the first World Santa Challenge title and the trophy go across the pond. The official numbers entered in the Great Santa Run in Vegas was a staggering 8,868 although more than 1,000 didn’t actually take part. So – to be safe we are targeting 10,000 for Liverpool this year.

If you haven’t taken part before then you’ve never seen anything like it. It is something special to see and be a part of. If you have done it before then it’s great to have you back. Bring your friends, relatives and anyone else you know and let’s make sure the title comes back to Liverpool this year!

Download the Liverpool Santa Dash entry form here!

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Download the Liverpool Mini Santa Dash entry form here!

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Download the Liverpool Santa Dash course map here!

Organisers of the Great Santa Run in Las Vegas have confirmed their final numbers of Santas in their 2009 event as 7,094 which is just 142 more than the Dashing Santas of Liverpool! So, the winners of the first World Santa Challenge are Opportunity Village, representing the city of Las Vegas.

The Great Santa Run will be the first recipients of the World Santa Challenge Trophy which has been hand crafted by the Tasmanian team who were also taking part – but finished in third place picking up the first Grinch Award!

Alan Rothwell from the Liverpool Santa Dash was complimentary in defeat saying…”whilst it is naturally disappointing to have not won the World Santa Challenge at the first attempt I’m sure we can lift the trophy next year. I’m sure that when the people of Liverpool see how close the final numbers were they will go flat out to beat the Las Vegas team in 2010!”

Although there were just three participants in the first year there is already keen interest from across the world to take part in the World Santa Challenge in 2010. The Tasmanian team have established good links with major cities in Australia and likewise Las Vegas is doing the same in the U.S.A. No doubt their new found status of Winners of the World Santa Challenge will raise the profile of this unique competition.

Alan Rothwell also commented… ” on the back of the first hosting of the World Santa Challenge it is great to see so many other cities across the world are now interested in taking part. I have had contact with eight other European cities about entering the competition next year and if we can get around a dozen competing cities in the second year then that would be absolutely brilliant. Hopefully Liverpool will emerge as winners in 2010 despite the increased competition!”

The raised profile of the World Santa Challenge brought about by the introduction of the annual Challenge Trophy will give any Festive Fun a clear focus in future years. The creator of the trophy, Steve Martin is pleased to see the efforts of the Enormity Charity in Tasmania are helping to bring the Santa Fun Run phenomenon to the world stage saying… “for a relatively small community to have such an impact on a world event is very satisfying indeed. We are absolutely delighted to have been part of the creation of a world initiative and our congratulations go to Linda Smith and her team at Opportunity Village in Las Vegas.”

The last word must go to Linda with Las Vegas being the winners of WSC1. Linda said…” after a lot of hard work and effort from a dedicated team here in Las Vegas I’m thrilled that we have won the first World Santa Challenge. It is just reward for the enormous amount of work that many people in Las Vegas have put in leading up to the event. Our thanks also go to the amazing Santas of Liverpool and Tasmania for taking part. I do hope they will take part once again in 2010… but just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!”

We’ll see!

Over 7,000 [TBC] off-duty Santas lined the famous Liverpool Waterfront today for the annual gathering of Santas, ready to race in what has become the UK’s largest gathering of Santas. The atmosphere built up from 8.30am to a crescendo of Ho! Ho! Hos! as Santas from far and wide began arriving in front of the World Famous Pier Head, a World Heritage Site.

I arrived at Exchange Flags, near the official finish line ready to meet up with members of the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund, who kindly invited me to be their photographer for the race. Included in their team were Big Brother winner, Craig Phillips and Michael Shields. They were joined by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Mike Storey CBE.

Afterwards, we hurried towards the start line to join the thousands of other Santas who were already warming up with the help of members of the Santa Dash community who kindly took to the stage to warm up everyone’s muscles before the race. This, accompanied by a drumming band and festive music ensured that the gathering crowd became excited and eager to start.

Shortly after 9.30am we were once again joined by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool who was there to start the race. The race began with the usual sprint from the beginning from those who use the opportunity to add a competitive edge to the gathering. It was nice to see so many blue Santas this year, officially endorsed by the organisers and who ran for The Everton Foundation Team.

I knew that 20 minutes after the race had begun; some of those more competitive Santas would be arriving at the finish line, so I quickly began to run towards Liverpool’s stunning Town Hall. Here the finishers were treated to a blanket of snow plus applause from the watching crowd. Once again, looking down to the bottom of Dale Street were hundreds of Santas snaking up and over onto the Churchill Way Flyover was a site to behold. Then the heavens opened, it began to pour down and I decided to call it a day and make that bizarre journey back to car walking with wet, tired Santas!

The organisers pulled it out the bag this year, providing what was in my opinion, the best Santa Dash ever! Fingers crossed we have regained that World Record which we narrowly missed last year!

Photographs
You can view my photographs by clicking here: Liverpool Santa Dash 2009 Gallery

Appeal
I want your pictures for the Liverpool Santa Dash 2009 Gallery. Please email them to this address and I will begin to add them to the gallery.

Facebook Group 2010

Join the Liverpool Santa Dash 2010 page now! http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?id=544398994&gv=12#/group.php?gid=189198088030

I was invited up the top of the Radio City Tower yesterday [18th July 09] for the official launch of the Liverpool Santa Dash 2009.

The day began at 9.30am, presentations were made in the presence of Mike Story, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Linda Smith from Opportunity Village in Las Vegas and Steve Martin from the Enormity Organisation in Tasmania who had flew thousands of miles to be here, in Liverpool.

Steve from Tasmania has brought over a hand carved official World Championship Trophy for Running Santas specially created for this year.

We then occupied an open top bus that travelled around the city centre to as far south as Allerton, through Toxteth, Aigburth etc, showing off the city to Linda and Steve and the new trophy to the people of Liverpool.

Then it was back into town to handout some freebies!

See the whole set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/sets/72157621546542063/

Join the discussion: http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?p=180481#post180481

To enter download the Entry form or enter online.

To enter the Mini Dash download the Mini Dash Entry form!

BEFORE YOU ENTER!

Please be advised that once you enter the event your entry fee is NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. By entering the event either online or by postal entry you do so in agreement with this arrangement.

Santa Dash 2009 / Entry Fee Increase

For the last three years the Santa Dash entry fee has remained at £15 and has delivered very good value for money as well as a fantastic day out.

However, due to recent increases in the cost of the Santa suits and medals (which are imported from China) as well as most other logistical delivery costs including the Traffic Order for road closures from Liverpool City Council Highways Department (to approximately £7,000) it is necessary to increase the entry fee this year to £20.

The increase has been kept to a minimum and it will ensure that the event is delivered to the standard expected by all those taking part.

More details to arrive as we get them!

Source: Run Liverpool

The Santa Dash saw the Capital of Culture Year out in style and with the prospect of a City Center Half Marathon approaching, things are definitely looking good for the year ahead.

The Run Liverpool website is being updated at the moment and will feature information about all 2009 races along with entry details.

Further Information

Santa Dash: Click

Half Marathon: Click

Women’s 10K/5K: Click

The Mersey Tunnel 10K: Click

Liverpool Underground 5K: Click

Last Call For The Santa Dash!!

Some last minute info from the organisers……..

***Entries are around 5,600 at the moment so we should at least match the 2007 total of 6,200 with another 5 days to go!

**Entries will be taken in person up to Saturday, 6.00pm at the Up And Running shop in Bold Street.

*There is FREE TRAIN TRAVEL on the day for fully dressed Santas on the Northern and Wirral lines – but check the train times as there are only a couple running on each line that will get the Santas to James Street in time for the 9.30am start!

Come on! You know you want too!

Source: Yo! Liverpool Santa Dash 2008

Why not register at the Yo! Liverpool web site, post your reports and pics!

Important information for Santas

Entries are now officially open for the 2008 Liverpool Santa Dash!

Last year 6,200 Santas took part in this Festive Fun Run which follows a 5K city centre course and it was the biggest to date!

The target this year is 7,500 to be in with a chance to beat Las Vegas!