Event Information

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Overview

Stamford Striders in association with The Rotary Club of Stamford Burghley will be holding the fifteenth Stamford Santa Fun Run on Sunday 4th December 2022 within Burghley Park.

Congratulation if you have registered for the Stamford Santa Fun Run. Please find below further information to ensure you have an enjoyable experience of the event. If you need any further help then please do not hesitate to contact us. The FAQs may also be of some help.

Venue, Date and Start time

The event will take place on Sunday 4th December 2022 starting at 11am in Burghley Park.

If arriving by car you should enter Burghley Park through the Station Gates entrance at the junction of Barnack Road (B1443) and Station Road, Stamford (PE9 2NQ). The car park and event area can be reached by turning right immediately on entering Burghley Park – marshals will direct you from this point. Parking is free. Parking marshals will direct you to a parking place in sequence to ensure adequate parking spaces for all participants and spectators. The start point for the run is between the bottom of the cricket ground and Lady Diana's Memorial Ground. Google Earth coordinates are 52' 38 57.15N, 0' 28.18.63W.  What3Words location is 'large.heavey.will'.  The postcode is PE9 2NQ. Click here for a site plan of the area or here for a Google map of the start point.

Assembly at Start Line

The fun run commences at 11am prompt, but the entertainment starts from 10am (music, dance, warm up, lucky dips for the children, etc). Those intending to run will be invited to start first, followed by the joggers, the plodders, the walkers, the strollers, the amblers, the dog walkers (on a short lead please), the pushchairs, etc. Check-in will be open from 10:00 am. We recommend you plan to be at the event start by 10:15am for the warm-up, entertainment and to enjoy the wonderful Christmas festive ambiance.

Route and Footwear

The event will be entirely off-road and traffic-free along tarmac and gravel paths with a short section across some meadow grass (depends on the state of the weather leading up to the event bearing in mind it is December!). To achieve the 5km distance it will be necessary to complete 3 laps of the circuit described above. The circuit will be marshalled in several places so it is not possible to get lost - just follow the Santa in front of you and you will arrive at the finish arch – no need to rush, just take your time and enjoy being with lots of other friendly “runners”, since we have plenty of mince pies and mulled wine for all finishers. We have done our best to provide a safe environment for all participants and spectators.

You will be expected to count your own completed laps although it is perfectly acceptable for you to complete less than the 3 laps if you want – it’s your day out so just do what you can manage. Bearing in mind the event is taking place in December you are recommended to wear appropriate footwear – it has been known to rain and sometimes snow in December!

Don’t forget nobody is counting the number of laps you do!

Toilets, First Aid and Lost Children Facilities

There will be toilet facilities in the event area including those with disabled access.

First aid services will be provided by the St John Ambulance around the start/finish area and strategic points along the circuit. Route marshals and first aiders will be in radio and mobile phone contact with the safety officer based in the start/finish area so, if assistance is required, it can be provided timely.

Lost children should be taken to the main marquee – likewise adults having lost children should report in at the main marquee. The point of contact will be signposted.

Rubbish

The start/finish area and the route are rubbish-free and should remain rubbish-free during the event. Please respect the environment by using the rubbish bins provided. Thank you.

Post-Run Refreshments: Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

Thanks to Ann Corder Recruitment (a Peterborough based recruitment agency “matching the right people with the right job”) we are able to offer a cup of mulled wine to all finishers with a tasty mince pie.

How to Enter

We request that you enter and pay using the on-line application process. Three options are available: here you will be able to enter a new team, apply to run with an existing pre-registered team or enter as an individual. Note that if you entered a previous Stamford Santa Fun Run since 2015/16, your "Entry Profiles" are already created. Thus, you may simply log on using your previous username/email address and password. You can then create your own "Runner Profile" together with those for your friends and family, select your choice of Team - or create a new one - and then make a single payment for all your Runners. You can pay the fee using PayPal or use your debit/credit card. A more detailed explanation of the entry process is available on the How to Enter page. Click here to enter the event on-line; you will receive confirmation and a race entry reference number for your application. Please retain this number for Santa suit collection purposes.

The registration procedure can also be carried out from the Santa suit collection venue during collection times. All forms will be available and payment by cash, cheque, credit/debit card, will be taken. See "Santa Suit Collection Arrangements" below for more details.

Bib Numbers

During registration you will also be allocated a self-printed “bib number” which you pin to your Santa suit. Please ensure you have completed the questions on the bottom of the “bib number” such as your name, contact details of a friend/family member, any allergies, any medical conditions, etc. However, it is your responsibility to ensure you are medically fit to participate.

This year the “bib number” sponsor is UPP – a company providing next level broadband direct to the premises/home within Eastern England.

Entry Fees

A continuing feature for 2022 is an "Early Bird" discount for adults who enter the event on or before 31 October 2022; the fee will be £14. Thereafter, from 1 November 2022, the fee will be £15 (the fee includes a Santa suit inclusive of hat and beard which is yours to keep). The fee for Children (5-12) is £8 (the fee includes a Santa suit inclusive of hat with NO beard which is yours to keep). In addition, all entrants will receive a medal on completion of the course, a mince pie and, if old enough, a cup of mulled wine (plenty of orange squash available).There will be no refunds. Don't forget it is a charity event and substantial costs have been incurred.

Sadly we have had to increased the entry price by £1 this year due to the substantial increase in the price of the Santa suits!

Children 4 and under are free, but no Santa suit will be provided (Santa suits are understandably not available in these sizes!). Please do not enter their details for the event or you could be charged.

Team Entries

Teams should ideally be a minimum of 6 runners. Each team will need to have an appointed Team Leader who needs to register the name of the team with us on-line. Once a Team is registered, further individuals can enter their selected Team.

Designated Charities

– the beneficiaries!

This year the designated charities are Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, Stamford MindSpace and The Rotary Club of Stamford Burghley (they then distribute further to local good causes).

Stamford Striders, which has a membership of nearly 300 (both juniors and seniors), is self-funding and does not receive any income or donations from the Stamford Santa Fun Run. Its members support the event as volunteers, providing energy and resources for the event’s smooth running. All profits go to the designated charities and the audited accounts are available for public inspection.

However, if you are an individual or a representative of a Team who wishes to raise sponsorship money for your own specific charity or good cause, please specify clearly on the entry form. Alternatively, sponsorship money raised can be donated to the Stamford Santa Fun Run’s designated local charities mentioned above. Details for doing this are on the sponsorship forms.

Click here for Sponsorship Forms

Note: If you are entering the "Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice" Team, bespoke sponsorship forms can be downloaded by clicking here.

Santa Suit Collection Arrangements

This year the Santa suits are kindly sponsored by BGL Insurance.

If you apply on-line you will receive an email confirmation and Race Entry Reference number; this number will entitle you to collect your Santa suit from:

Christ Church Access and Learning Centre,

Green Lane

Stamford

PE9 1HE

Note: Green Lane can be reached by Recreation Ground Road then continue straight up the hill. A map of the location can be seen by using the following link: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Stamford+PE9+1HE/@52.6635758,-0.4872191,15z

Collection times are as follows:

26th November to 3rd December 2022 inclusive, during the following times:

  • Saturday 26th November and 3rd December - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Sunday 27th November - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Monday 28th November, Wednesday 30th November and Friday 2nd December - 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday 29th November and Thursday 1st December - No Collection.

Please note that the registration procedure can also be carried out during the above times (if places remain - it sold out last year!). All forms will be available and payment by cash, credit/debit card, will be taken at the same time.

Santa suits can also be collected on the day of the Stamford Santa Fun Run at Burghley Park. Please allow time to do this and bring along your confirmation details including entry bib number. If you can, please try to collect your Santa suits before the day.

Registration on the Day 

If we have places left then we will be taking entries on the day, we sold out early last year!

Wheelchair Entrants

Wheelchair entrants are most welcome, however, please be informed that there is a rough track section that may require the assistance of a friend or family member. To be honest a lot depends on the weather conditions on the day (and days prior to the event!) since that part of the route may be soft and slippery.  You may need to make a judgement on the day.

Event Rules for Participants and Spectators

There are not too many rules – let’s not forget it is a fun day - just a few for the safety of all! Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.

· Competitor’s cars are only to be parked in the designated area (this is to ensure access for emergency vehicles). In addition, only vehicles displaying a current disabled badge may be parked in the area allocated to disabled entrants.

· Competitors must obey the directions given by the Marshals (normally wearing yellow hi-viz jackets). Only those that have paid the entrance fee may participate – don’t forget it is a charity event.

· Any Santa suits that have not been collected within 15 minutes after the start of the event will be retained by the event organisers.

· Dogs must be kept on short leads and under proper control. (Dogs can be a menace to participants and the sheep that graze in the Burghley Park).

· Persons are not allowed to drive on the Burghley Park roads when the run is in progress.

· All rubbish must be disposed of in the receptacles provided, or taken home (deer inhabit the Burghley Park and rubbish can kill them if it is ingested).

Visit to Stamford Town Centre

Why not visit Stamford town centre following the fun run and enjoy one of the finest stone towns in the UK with a wide choice of eateries and independent retailers.