Rhino and bull join colourful street ‘stampede’ colour with 10k runners

Thousands of smiling faces, some painted garish green and others topped with yellow wigs, prepared with a warm-up session in Millennium Square before taking their place at the start.

Among the first there was former England and Leeds United star Danny Mills, who was running for spina bifida charity Shine in memory of his son Archie who died of the condition a decade ago.

He said the work by the Tomlinson family to create the event was an “inspiration”.

He added: “I biked here this morning from home in Harrogate and after the run I’ll be biking back. I’m in training for a Leeds to London challenge on September 23 to raise money for Shine.”

Mills beat top flight referee Howard Webb, from Rotherham, over the finish line, but the official, who recently returned from overseeing Euro 2012 matches, was generous in defeat.

Webb, who was part of a team of Premier League referees treating the event as pre-season training added: “It was fantastic. The support of the crowds was outstanding.”

Former Leeds Rhinos prop Barrie McDermott, running with the Run with the Rhinos scheme, supporting the Jane Tomlinson Appeal and the Leeds Rugby Foundation, said it was the fifth time he had taken part.

He said of Jane Tomlinson: “I just found her a real inspirational lady. She had her own adversity to deal with and not at any point did she have any self pity and nothing slowed her down.”

He said he enjoyed taking part in the race because there was always a good atmosphere.

Green wig-wearing veteran fundraiser John Burkhill, 73, from Sheffield, who pushes a pram on all his marathon walks for Macmillan, was one of the last to set off, and was given a warm welcome by the crowd.

He was joined in raising funds for Macmillan by three friends, Joanne Clarke, 42, from Rothwell, Leeds, and Lisa Gapper, 40, and Carla Whiteley, 38, who had both travelled from Skegness to run.

Miss Clarke said the trio had decided to take part while on holiday in Turkey last year and done some training, but had prepared last night by “having a bottle of wine and relaxing”.

She added: “My auntie died of cancer recently and Macmillan nurses looked after her. We’re hoping to raise at least £500.

Josh Eyles, 17, of Gildersome, Leeds, ran the distance dressed in a bull costume in memory, of his grandfather David Beer, a Bradford Bulls fan who died of cancer seven years ago.

Josh, who was running for Yorkshire Cancer Research, only decided to take part at the end of last week, and said he was “slightly regretting” his choice of outfit as the sun shone.

The runners were placed under starters’ orders at 9am exactly by seven-year-old James Driver, from Rothwell, who waved a flag bearing the White Rose to send them on their way.

James, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was told when he was born that he may never walk or talk, but yesterday he was keen to give bystanders his prediction on who was going to win the Wimbledon men’s singles final.

The youngster was chosen as the starter by trustees of the Jane Tomlinson Appeal after taking part in the mini run at the Jane Tomlinson Leeds Half Marathon in May.

James’s mother Tracy who was with him on the starter’s platform, said: “He was up late last night watching tennis and was getting very excited about starting the event today.”

Bret Crossley,the first wheelchair racer to finish, admitted he had felt nervous about taking part after crashing off the course two years ago.

The 38-year-old, also from Rothwell, was paralysed after an accident during a motorcycling race in 2006.

He said: “I did feel like I had to be extra careful, and I was worried it was going to be wet which makes it more difficult to stay on the road. But it has turned out to be fantastic conditions and the only thing that held me back was the porridge I had for my breakfast this morning – it’s felt like a bowling ball in my stomach.

“There is so much support out there from the crowds and they were really cheering me on, occasionally I could let out a thanks, but it is tough going in places.”

The first runners were back after just half an hour out on the city course, but as the crowds waited for them, mascots from various sporting teams took part in a race which was won by Leeds Rhinos mascot Ronnie the Rhino.

Elliot Coates, from Skipton, said it was his first ever race and he had been inspired to take part after recently losing a stone and a half. .

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