Thousands run for good Claus in Liverpool Santa Dash

Dec 3 2007 by Nick Moreton, Liverpool Daily Post

FATHER Christmas came to Liverpool yesterday as more than 6,000 runners dressed as Santa Claus took part in the city’s annual Santa Dash.

Despite early morning rain and a biting wind, a sea of red covered the city as participants donned the famous white beard and red outfit in an effort to retain their own world record.

The Guinness Book of Records currently places Liverpool as the home of the planet’s biggest Santa Dash, after 3,921 runners took part in 2005.

Las Vegas has since then tried to go head-to-head with Liverpool and there were whispers that this would be the year the record-breaking crown crosses the Atlantic.

However, organisers were last night confident that, with more than 6,000 people signed up and around £100,000 pledged to charity, the record will be staying put.

Alan Rothwell, from organising company L13 10K, said: “We took over 6,000 entries in total and that should see us retain the world record.

“I don’t think Las Vegas, whose race was on Saturday, have cleared 5,000.

“That’s not definite, but I don’t think they did it, so we should retain our own world record.

“It was a fantastic event, despite the rain this morning, and everyone turned out in big numbers.

“We raised somewhere in the region of £100,000 to go to the 10 associated charities so it has been an overwhelming success and it’s a real credit to the city.”

Natalie Jenkins, 34, of Edge Lane, Liverpool, and friend Jo Telfer, 33, of Penny Lane, ran the race together.

Everton fan Jo has run in every Santa Dash since it started five years ago and she said: “There seemed to be loads of people this year.

“We will be back next year, but we want to do it in blue Santa suits, so we need somebody to start selling them – we don’t want to make them ourselves, but we will if we have to.”

Bob Murray, 58, and son Andrew, 21, from Ormskirk did the race with Andrew McCracken, 21, and Jan Rainford, 50, of West Kirby.

Bob, who was running for the fourth time, said: “This is the way to start Christmas off. There’s always a good atmosphere and it’s well organised.”

Andrew Monk, 21, who is studying PE at Edge Hill University and works at the gym in the Radisson Hotel, did the dash before the start of his shift.

“This was my first time, it was good to see the community together in a non-competitive way raising money for charity.” Friends Jill Nelson, 45, and Denise Hooper, 43, both of Ainsdale, brought their dogs along for the fun.

Jill’s poodles Flossie, 8, and Looby, 1, ran alongside the pair with Denise’s Staffordshire bull terrier Sheena, 10.

Jill said: “This is my third time, but the first time with the dogs. It has been one of the best despite the weather.”