Gunpowder, treason and plod

We find out more about the mysterious Bonfire Night event that’s set to light up the Knavesmire.

"We think it's the first event of its kind in the world," says Jim Mee, Director of Rat Race Adventure Sports and co-organiser of the new Gunpowder Plod event. "Myself and my business partner David Powell, being York born and bred ourselves, put it together with York in mind. We want to give York a spectacular Bonfire Night event, complete with the typical weird and wonderful Rat Race treatment!"

 

Bizarre Bonfire

Jim isn't joking about weird and wonderful - this is no ordinary Bonfire Night. Alongside the bonfire, spectacular fireworks and family entertainment will be up to 2000 runners, tackling a five kilometre challenge around the Knavesmire track. And, this is no ordinary run, either. "The runners will be entertained throughout with a theatrical story," explains Jim. "As they reach each station, there'll be fireworks or pyrotechnics and special effects going off, which will start when the first runner reaches the station and not finish until the last runner passes through. So, everyone will get to enjoy them no matter how fast or slow they are!" The finish line should also be quite spectacular. "We've got a special gas flame system, so there will quite literally be great balls of fire!"

 

Family affair

Jim and David want the event to be accessible to all, hence the race taking place on flat tarmac so that people can take part in the run no matter what their level of fitness. If the race isn't for you, though, there'll still be plenty to keep you entertained. Children will love the bouncy castles, face painting, treasure trail and story tent, while adults can enjoy a tipple in the huge beer tent - featuring Rat Race ale as well as a host of ciders and real ales, and scrumptious food. For music fans, Jim says that he's planning to book a "monster act" to entertain the crowds - watch this space for more details! If you're a daredevil, there'll be plenty of thrills for you, too, including a bungee jump and a funfair.

 

Though York knows Rat Race Adventure Sports shop well, Jim and David have been organising "weird and wonderful" events around the country, and the world, for years. Jim says his most memorable moment in the events business was hanging from a zip wire on a skyscraper, over a river and a motorway, in Santiago, Chile - so we reckon he'll be able to put on an exciting show!

 

Tickets are selling like hot cakes, and will go up in price nearer the time, so now's the time to get the best deal. Visit www.gunpowderplod.com

 

 

Event starts: 4pm

Run begins: 6.30pm

Fireworks display: 8pm

Event finishes: 12pm

 

Runners get into the event for free as part of their entry fee, and also get a 15% discount for tickets for friends and family as well as 15% off the whole range at Rat Race Adventure Sports shop.

 

 

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