Running clubs restore 'forgotten' athletics track

Running club volunteers have spent months unearthing the athletics track at Temple Newsam

A group of runners have worked hard to restore an eight-lane athletics track that had been in a state of disrepair for 30 years.

The 400m "cinder" circuit on the Temple Newsam estate was once Leeds' main athletics facility, and the first in the city to be available for public use when it opened in 1954.

It hosted prestigious meets, but local running clubs believe it has not been regularly maintained since the 1990s.

After being told that Leeds City Council could not fund rejuvenation work, volunteers from Crossgates Harriers decided to uncover the track themselves.

Mucking in

They have spent months improving the track, which was described as being in "terrible" condition, alongside runners from St Theresa's Athletic Club.

Volunteer Sarah Marquis-Linley said: "If, as a community, we didn't come together, everyone else would assume someone else is doing something, when in reality they're not."

Graham Wilson from Crossgates Harriers said the running club "mucked in" to get the job done

Crossgates Harriers member Graham Wilson said that with "cuts here and cuts there", public funding was "just not available" for the project.

"Sometimes if you want something doing and you want to use it yourself, then you've got to muck in and get the job done," he added.

Runner Andy Darby added that the Temple Newsam track was one of the last of its kind in Leeds that was still publicly accessible.

"That's why we want to support it and rebuild it," he said.

"It's really popular, loads of communities groups come out, it's fabulous."

The area in the middle of the track used to be a football pitch and tennis court. The facility was Leeds City Athletic Club's main training ground until 1980, and open meets and West Yorkshire League competitions were held there.

Its decline began after the changing pavilion was destroyed by a fire and the athletic club moved elsewhere.

The Temple Newsam track had a history of hosting tennis matches and sports days

The volunteers set up a Gofundme appeal to raise £30,000 to resurface the cinder track. Around £2,600 has been donated so far.

"We as volunteers can only do so much," runner Nicky Shepherd said.

"We need money. It's essentially £30,000 to resurface the track because it's got potholes, it's not straight, it's not safe.

"We need to fundraise to resurface it the whole way round."

A 10k race in September has been planned to help meet the target.

A further £30,000 is required to fully restore the cinder track

Temple Newsam ward councillor Helen Hayden said she remembered school sports days at the facility.

"I have tried for many years and sat in many meetings trying to get the money together," she said.

"But the council just don't have the budget.

"I'd like to thank the estate staff who have just given them (the volunteers) the keys to get equipment and taken the debris away.

"Everything they could do, they've worked in partnership and done physical work."

The park has been owned by Leeds City Council since 1922, when the Earls of Halifax gifted their land to the people of the city.

Leeds City Council said they had supported the community-led project and would continue to do so until its completion.

"This is a great example of community groups and the council working together to achieve a positive outcome for the city," a spokesperson added.

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