Showing posts with label Running Race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Running Race. Show all posts

Monday, August 19, 2019

The 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead


We had a brilliant time in Newcastle and Gateshead at the weekend. We were visiting to cheer on our friend, minigolf rival and GB international athlete John Moore in the 2019 World Transplant Games.



The World Transplant Games is a multi-sports event with thousands of athletes from 53 countries competing in 16 sports. Sporting events range from Archery and Athletics to Darts, Football and Golf to Tenpin Bowling, Squash, Swimming and Volleyball.



The 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
It was brilliant to see all of the World Transplant Games signs, banners and activity around Newcastle and Gateshead

The 2019 World Transplant Games are the 22nd edition and the first in the UK since the Manchester Games in 1995.


We've previously been to the British Transplant Games in Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham.

The Games were created to be a celebration of a second chance of life, and to demonstrate the success of transplant surgery while also promoting the need to raise public awareness of organ and tissue donation.

Badges from the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
I got some very nice pins for my sporting badge collection at the Games

There are currently around 6,080 people on the transplant waiting list including around 150 children and teenagers. On average three people die every day who could have benefited from an organ transplant.

If you want to save lives through organ donation and join the NHS Organ Donor Register it only takes a few minutes to sign up. Do ask your family and friends whether they want to be donors too.

After a healthy walk it was nice to get to heart of the city to see the Athlete's Parade through Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

Hope, the mascot of the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
A snap with the Games mascot Hope at the Athlete's Parade

With the athletics getting underway on Sunday John got off to a winning start, with victory in the 5k Road Race in both the individual and team categories.

Emily and I also took part in the Gift of Life 5k Run at Exhibition Park and the Town Moor on Sunday.

After the Gift of Life 5K Run at Exhibition Park at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
After the 5k run

After the Gift of Life 5K Run at Exhibition Park at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
The Gift of Life Run was my second 5k, after the Donor Run at last year's British Transplant Games in Birmingham. I felt a lot better this time and really need to run some more

Hope, the mascot of the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
Another day and another photo with Hope the mascot

While having a lovely walk around Newcastle and Gateshead on Saturday we found the Petanque Boulodrome and watched a bit of the practice.

Petanque at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
The upper terrain

Petanque at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
Petanque players practicing on the middle terrain

We enjoy playing petanque and it was superb to see the game being played at the World Transplant Games.

Petanque at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
Australian players practicing on the third terrain

The petanque terrains had been created on a car park and the approach to the Sage Gateshead music centre. It looked like it had been turned into a really good spot to play the tournament. A great use of a car park.

Our friend Kay, John's sister, is a volunteer at the Games and one of the sports she has been assigned is Petanque.

Petanque at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle Gateshead
A view of the two lower terrains

Events are taking place across Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland until Friday 23rd August. For more information visit the World Transplant Games website.

Links:
- World Transplant Games 2019
- Join the NHS Organ Donor Register

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Minigolf in Helsinki, Finland

My friend, minigolf rival, sometimes team-mate and international sporting superstar John 'Big Al' Moore was recently in Vantaa, Finland where he was competing in the 2016 European Transplant Sport Championships. In a break in his running competitions - where he won gold medals to add to his World and British titles - he managed to fit in a round of minigolf on a Swedish Felt miniature golf course near the Oulunkylä train station in Helsinki. Check out the photos of the course below. John tells me he scored a rather nifty round of 45(+9) on the layout.






We've played a Swedish Felt course in Finland too. At the 2008 EMF Nations Cup in Tampere we had a round on the course next to the two tournament layouts.

We've also played minigolf in Sweden. But neither of those courses was of the Swedish Felt variety.

You can read a European Transplant Sport Championships interview with John on the Vantaa 2016 Games website.

John is back in action this weekend at the British Transplant Games 2016 in Liverpool. He don't half get around!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Zombie Fun Run at the World Alternative Games!

Zombie Race to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Monday 11th August.

A Zombie Fun Run will be taking place at the upcoming World Alternative Games!

The race (shouldn't it be a shamble?) will be held in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales during the PM session on Monday 11th August.

Anybody can enter the The Zombie Fun Run ('Râs Hwyl Sombi' in Welsh) and there will be many different categories. The main rule is that you MUST be dressed up as a zombie!!! Runners should start thinking about their costume and make-up now, as the 'best dressed' zombie will win.

The closest I've ever been to a Zombie Race was trying to evade the hordes at the Halloween Zombie Apocalypse in Hastings outdoor laser tag event in 2011!

A Zombie Apocalypse victim and a future victim in Hastings
A Zombie Apocalypse victim and a future victim in Hastings

Christopher Gottfried and two new friends at the Zombie Apocalypse in Hastings
Christopher Gottfried and two new friends at the Zombie Apocalypse in Hastings

To enter the Zombie Fun Run, and other contests, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

Llanwrtyd Wells is renowned for its quirky and odd sporting events. One of the most physically demanding contests is the annual Man vs Horse Marathon that began in 1980! For more information check out the Green Events website.

The World Alternative Games are taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female competitions taking place on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website for more information.

Links:
World Alternative Games website
World Alternative Games on Twitter
World Alternative Games on Facebook
World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
World Alternative Games

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Runner-up in a High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party Race!

High Town in Luton marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a Street Party with fun, games and races

To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the High Town area of Luton organised a Street Party on Saturday 2nd June 2012 from 2pm-6pm.

Luton - High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party
The competitors in the High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party 18-50 year-old's 60m Race under starter's orders

Part of the fun included a series of street races. After the children's races and before the senior’s Egg & Spoon Race I took part in the men’s 18-50 year-old 60m* sprint – and finished second!

High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party 18-50 year-olds 60m Race
And they're off...

In addition to the running races the special community celebration day had a number of events going on including a fancy dress competition with a royal theme, a cake contest, an interesting exhibition of old photos of the High Town area,  High Tea and a concert in the High Town Methodist Church Hall.


The running race was the second ‘track athletics’ pursuit I’ve undertaken in 2012. Back in March a bunch of us took part in the first-ever Ripping Yarns Hopathon at Hampstead Heath Athletics Track in London!

Links:

* It was more or less 60 metres I think