Held for the last seven years and with continuous team involvement since 2004, the Horwich Carnival Races are a day long culmination of running and cycling events over the previous week, held within Horwich Town Centre which uniquely is completely closed to traffic for the day in order for the races to be run in safety.

Races around the town centre circuit included road walking and running events, fun runs, a bicycle obstacle relay, various youth cycle races, the British Cycling National Women’s Circuit Road Race Championships, the National Tricycle Criterium Championship race, and multi-lap Senior and Junior Cycle events, and introduced this year, the Railway Sleeper World Championship Races.

Sandwiched in between all these exciting events was the Horwich Carnival Procession, consisting of local and community groups many on decorated floats, with a pipe band and brass band.

In total 36 team members were present around the course, in four team Landrover Ambulances, and three team members vehicles adapted for the day to carry rescue and casualty care equipment to back up our four team vehicles.
Our involvement was co-ordinated from our Control trailer.

As with last year’s events, the unseasonally chilly day, cloud and lack of sunshine, accompanied by very strong winds and the ever present threat of rain kept away the crowds, but those present were treated to some fantastic athletes in a very varied selection of events.

Thankfully all the events passed without any requirement on our services.

The organisers and co-ordinators of this annual event, Horwich RMI Harriers and Athletics Club alongside Horwich Town Council and the event sponsors are to be congratulated on their skills and abilities on putting on such an event within their local community that attracts such a gathering of renowned sportsmen and women.

The team welcomes the opportunity to be associated with this local event and looks forward to next year’s Horwich Carnival Races (fingers crossed, it’s got to be sunny one year!)

See the link to Horwich Carnival Races for more information.