Liverpool Corporate Cup
Historically the Liverpool Corporate Cup has been a popular city centre race attracting numbers well in excess of 3,000. The 5K run had enjoyed the benefit of a regular city centre course up until 2004 after which Liverpool City Council opted to relocate to Croxteth Park due to regeneration work in the city.
Over the last two years since moving to the park numbers have dropped to just over 1,000 and it is clear due to the restrictive nature of the park pathways that it would be difficult to stage an event of 3,000 in the park environment. So, those taking part this year were invited to fill in a questionnaire about their preferences. The outcome was clear. Over 75% of those who responded said they preferred the event in the city. Which brings the event full circle and raises the question as to why the Corporate Cup can’t be staged in the city?
There are parts of the city around Tithebarn Street, Old Hall Street and Dale Street where redevelopment work is now complete and it has been proposed that this area of the city could be used to stage a 5K event. It would also fit the profile of a more ‘Corporate’ event with many Liverpool businesses operating in this area of the city. B.B.C. Radio Merseyside and the Charitable Trust are keen to back a return to the city and a proposal has been put to Liverpool City Council in respect of a return to the city centre. Part of the proposal also includes a suggestion to rename the event the Liverpool City Challenge and run it as an independent event away from the structure of the old Corporate Cup.
The Corporate Cup series would appear to have lost it’s way in recent years with neither Wirral nor Chester staging an event in 2006. And with diminishing numbers attending the Liverpool event over the last two years it is clear that the event is in need of an overhaul.
2007 will see one of two options – either the Corporate Cup will remain in it’s current format in Croxteth Park, attracting around 1,000 runners, or it can undergo a transformation, return back to the city and in all probability enjoy a new lease of life. Watch this space (www.runcityliverpool.com) for an update when Liverpool City Council make their decision.