Team Congleton’s Relay Run Marks the Arrival of the Olympic
Year
December 30, 2011
Britain’s first female Olympic track Gold medallist, Ann Packer,
will be at the start and finish of a 60-mile relay between Much
Wenlock in Shropshire and her home town of Congleton in Cheshire
East.
The relay takes place on January 2nd and marks the
start of the Olympic year for these two ambitious towns.
Sixteen runners from Congleton will take part in the relay,
carrying a special message of goodwill to the town of Congleton
from both Lord Sebastian Coe and from the Mayor of Much Wenlock,
famed for being the birthplace of the modern Games.
It precedes the national Olympic torch relay, which passes
through Congleton on the morning of Thursday, May
31st.
The Mayor of Much Wenlock, Cllr Lesley Durbin and former Olympic
champion Ann Packer will start the run at 7.30am from Holy Trinity
Church in Much Wenlock, the resting place of the Olympic founder Dr
William Penny-Brookes. It is expected to take eight hours to reach
Congleton, with each of the runners carrying the baton for four
miles.
The idea for the relay came from Ann’s husband, Robbie
Brightwell. Mr Brightwell was the former captain of the British
Olympic team and holds Olympic, Commonwealth and European medals.
Ann is president and Robbie Vice President of a community group
called Team Congleton, which has organised a packed programme of
cultural and sporting events to help Congleton ‘embrace the
games’.
Mr Brightwell said: “Having the Olympics held in our Country is
probably a once in a life-time experience and we are determined to
celebrate it in style. We salute Much Wenlock for holding Games
since 1850 and thought this 60 mile endurance run would embody the
spirit, challenge and camaraderie of the Olympic Games and is a
great way to kick-start the town’s Olympic year. We are very
grateful to our sponsors Marks and Spencers, Senior Aerospace,
Steve Purdham and Fiona Bruce MP for their support. ”
Cheshire East Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with
responsibility for environmental services, said: “Cheshire East
Council very much supports any initiative which promotes the
Olympic Games. Indeed, the Olympic Torch will pass through four of
our towns later this year, including Congleton.
“I would like to wish all of the runners taking part in this
60-mile relay all the very best and I congratulate them for doing
their bit to raise the profile of the town of Congleton and
Cheshire East.”
The runners are expected to arrive in Congleton at approximately
3.00pm where they will be met by Congleton Town Council members,
Fiona Bruce MP and other local representatives. The Town Crier,
Douglas Parker, will read the messages from the Mayor of Much
Wenlock and Lord Sebastian Coe.
