The Races
Children’s Races…
Children aged 5-15 are encouraged to take part in our Coal Race event by entering in a ‘Fun Run’ – racing 100 yards from the Darby & Joan to the Village Green.
Women’s Race…
The Womens race is split in to two open races and one veterans race for those 40 years and over. Races start from the Royal Oak public house, Owl Lane, Ossett and continues for a distance of 1012 metres to the finish line at the Maypole Green in Gawthorpe village. Women Carrry 20kg of Coal. The current Womens World Record holder is Catherine Foley with 4 mins 25 sec in 2011.
Mens Race…
The Mens Race is split in to three open races and two Veterans Races for those 40 years and over. Men carry 50kg of coal 1012 metres from The Royal Oak starting line to the Maypole Green in Gawthorpe Village. The Current Mens World Record Holder is David Jones with a record of 4 mins 6 secs in 1995.
The Coal Race is offically timed by a clock that is used for timing racing pigeons as has been the tradition from the beginning of the races. A modern stopwatch is also used to ensure all competitors have a race time attributed to their race finishing position. Please note your time will be recorded when your sack of coal hits the green.
The winner of the Mens Open Race is the OVERALL winner with the best time over the three mens open races. This also applies to 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.
The winner of the Womens Open Race is the OVERALL winner with the best time over the two womens open races. This also applies to 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.
The same applies to the Mens Veterans Race where the winner is the best time over the two veterans races and the same for 2nd and 3rd places.