Runners go to extremes as debut race set to bring in £1m

Camp Hill is the venue for the North of England’s leg of the Warrior Dash, which is billed as the world’s largest running series, based around participants taking on a 5km assault course. Past Warrior Dash events have seen competitors dressed in a range of outfits, climbing up mud hills, bounding over cars and fire, and swimming through mud.

It is the first time Warrior Dash has visited the UK from the United States and organisers, Red Frog Events, have said hosting a Dash generates nearly £1m for the immediate area as a result of participants, friends and family, travelling to the area and needing places to sleep, eat and refuel.

Michael Hanson, manager of Camp Hill, said: “This is the inaugural North of England Warrior Dash, and we hope this will become an annual event. It fits perfectly with our ethos of providing outdoor action and adventure in Yorkshire. It will provide a great boost for the local economy and promises to be a fantastic day for competitors and spectators alike, with a real festival atmosphere.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Hosting an event of this calibre is a fantastic coup for the area and the boost to business that it brings will provide a great start to the summer season.”

The Warrior Dash will be in Bedale during the weekend of June 30.