BigK 10K

Keighley has a long tradition of top quality, often international, sporting excellence, deriving from a wide and mixed population. Sunday is an opportunity for the whole population to rub shoulders with elite sports people and each other and while doing so discover something new about the town as well.

The BIGK 10K is a unique multi-terrain event that follows some of the footpaths and ginnels around Keighley and links the four superb parks in the town: Lund Park, Devonshire Park, Cliffe Castle and Victoria Park.

It is based upon the sportKeighley-promoted "walKways" routes, all of which enable someone to be out in a semi-rural setting within a mile of Keighley Town Centre.

The added bonus is that the event is raising money for Manorlands, the Sue Ryder Care Cancer hospice at Oxenhope, the work of which has positively touched the lives of many people in our area, often at times of acute pain and sorrow.

It is great too, to be able to tie in with the nationwide Sport Relief Day by having a "BIG Day" of sport in Keighley, including Sport Relief Mile Events that will also raise money for charity.

The sporting theme continues with the public launch of the Keighley Cougar Community Foundation. The Cougars are well-known nationwide for the innovation and commitment they have shown in community promotion of rugby and of sport in general.

The new foundation seeks to build upon this sterling work for the benefit of the whole town, so take the opportunity to visit Cougar Park and Keighley Cricket Club, see what's going on and then support Cougars in their match against Workington at 3pm.

Timetable 8 30am - registration 9.30am - start of BIGK 10K, Victoria Park 10am - start of Keighley BIGK Mile, Victoria Park 10am - start of BIGK Mile Challenge, Lund Park 10am - start of BIGK Mile Challenge, Highfield 10am - first BIGK 10K finishers expected 11am - Presentations 11.30am - final BIGK 10K finishers expected 1pm - Start of Cougar Community Foundation Launch 3pm - Kick-off: Cougars vs Workington Route for the BIGK 10K Start:- Victoria Park (Loop) - Bradford Road - Low Mill Lane - Footpath - Coney Lane - Worth Way - Marriner Road/Walk - Woodhouse Road - Victoria Road - Queens Road - Malsis Road - LUND PARK (Feed Station) (Loop) - Exley Street - Mannville Walk - Arncliffe Road - Fell Lane - Holme Mill Lane - Footpath - North Beck - Footpath - North Dean Road - Edensor Road - HIGHFIELD (Feed Station) (Loop) - Cartmel Road - Highfield Lane - Belgrave Road - Devonshire Park (Loop) - Mayfield Road - Cliffe Castle (Loop) - East Avenue - Victoria Avenue - Victoria Park.

The route has a variety of surfaces, including grass, road, setts, Yorkshire flags, muddy paths and two short flights of steps (up each time). The route follows some of the flatter parts of Keighley, with the biggest climb at the appropriately-named Highfield!

Unfortunately for these reasons the multi-terrain and sometimes uneven route is not at present wheelchair or pushchair friendly although part of the reason for using and highlighting these paths and routes for the BIGK 10K event is to attract attention and resource for improvements in the future.

The paths form a number of routes associated with established walking and jogging initiatives in Keighley, including "walKways", the Worth Way, the Keighley & Craven Way and also the proposed Worth Valley Cycleway (see www.sportkeighley.com for more details).

There are also a number of heritage and history trails that have been produced by local historian Malcolm Hanson in conjunction with local schools - see his book "10 Brilliant School's Heritage Trails" on sale on the day.