Knaresborough inspires bed race 11,000 miles away
Teams leaving the river in the Knaresborough Bed Race 2012. (120609M4n)
Knaresborough’s most famous export has made it 11,000 miles around the world to Auckland, New Zealand.
Two Yorkshire ex-pats, in living in the New Zealand capital, are about to launch the city’s own bed race inspired by the Great Knaresborough Bed Race.
And the Knaresborough Lions, who organise the bed race, have leant their expertise to helping develop the first Auckland race ready for its launch on Sunday, May 26.
It is the latest in a long line of fundraising events around the world inspired by the Knaresborough race, said Knaresborough Lions’ Nigel Perry.
“There are two bed races in Germany, and we have had contact with groups in Lincolnshire, the Lake District and Palm Beach, Florida.
“We probably get around one enquiry a year from a group elsewhere wanting to set up a bed race.”
The Auckland race is being pioneered by Samantha Jung-Fielding, originally from Harrogate, and David Whittaker who was born in Burley-in-Wharfedale.
Nigel added: “When David was visiting his mother he came to Knaresborough and we walked him around the course and explained how it works with river crossing and the run up to the castle and around the market place.”
The Auckland race had been planned for an arena, the organisers changed their plans to include a race that starts and finishes in the arena, but takes in a run around the streets, like the Knaresborough race.
The Lions are proud to see Knaresborough’s event has inspired people across the world, Nigel added.
“In Knaresborough it is really about the community turning out to put the bed race on.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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