'We see Olympians training on our quiet suburban street'

Paul Ashwell and his daughter enjoy Olympian spotting from their window

Paul Ashwell enthusiastically lists a long line of Olympians he has spotted on the quiet suburban estate where he lives in Leeds.

His impressive roll call includes Steve Cram, Keely Hodgkinson, Alex Yee and the Brownlee brothers.

"It's prime viewing for elite runners," says Paul, who shares the streets of West Park with some of the best athletes in the world.

The leafy north-west Leeds estate is usually the preserve of families and retirees, but its not just learner drivers who benefit from using its quiet streets.

Runners of all abilities, including performance squads based at the nearby Leeds Beckett University campus, use the estate's 0.8mile (1.28km) loop to train for their next big race.

"It almost replicates a race-day feel," says Olympic 800m finalist and West Park regular Alex Bell.

In her view, West Park is the ideal location for "hard miles [...] a street at a time".

"It's perfect to do the reps we need to do," she adds.

The loop provides a mixture of uphill, downhill and flat sections, which, according to Edward Hobbs - who won the Leeds Half Marathon in 2023 aged 17 and travels from Ilkley to train here - makes it an "inviting" place to prepare for race day.

"People presume you need to move the length and breadth of the country to find amazing facilities," adds Bell, who is from Leeds and still lives and trains in the city.

Olympic finalist Alex Bell regularly uses the streets of West Park to train

"During Covid I think it became a bit of a popular spot to come and do your own thing," says Paul, who has lived in West Park with his family for 14 years.

"I have absolutely no problem with it at all. I don't think I have ever heard a neighbour or anybody else say: 'Oh, they are a bit of a nuisance.'

"I think everybody has just got used to people running around the estate in the middle of the road."

Retired bank worker Margaret Simpson, who also lives in West Park, is in agreement.

"I love it," she says.

"It brings life to the area. There's so many old people here, so it's good to see them all.

"It does encourage you to get out and walk and enjoy your day."

Margaret Simpson says runners 'bring life to the area'

The warm welcome from locals isn't lost on Bell, who, after emerging around the corner and into view from behind a bin lorry, gives a wave to the neighbourhood's postwoman while weaving through the slow-moving traffic.

"It's just a really lovely, friendly environment to be in," says the 33-year-old, who has also represented England in the Commonwealth Games.

"That's what a community is - co-habiting with so many different people around. I think that's the beauty of it, you have got the mix."

Paul believes most of his neighbours "don't have a clue" the people running past their homes are sporting royalty, but says his 11-year-old daughter has been inspired after spotting some of her favourite athletes.

"I really like it," says the youngster.

"We have seen them on the TV, getting to see them in real life is lots better than just on screen."

In Paul's view, West Park's pull for Olympic medallists makes this quiet corner of the city "unique".

"I don't think there's many places where you get this cohort of different people," he adds.

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