Hundreds take part in Easter coal-carrying race
Hundreds take part in Easter coal-carrying race
Every Easter Monday, the village of Gawthorpe in West Yorkshire comes alive with a unique competition that has become a local staple. This year, over 240 individuals participated in the World Coal Carrying Championships, braving the challenge of transporting sacks of coal across a 3,320ft (approximately 1,000m) course. Men competed with 7st 12lb (50kg) loads, while women tackled 3st 2lb (20kg) bags, all starting from the Royal Oak pub and ending at the village’s Maypole Green.
“It feels like it gets heavier each year. When you put it on you’re like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ And then you can really feel it on your legs,” said Craig Heppenstall, who secured his over-40s world champion title once again. Heppenstall narrowly missed breaking the world record for his category, falling just one second short of the four-minute-and-fifty-seven-second benchmark.
The tradition began as casual banter in a local pub, sparked by a coal merchant’s idea. Over time, this lighthearted challenge evolved into a celebrated event, drawing international competitors and crowds eager to witness the uphill struggle. Organiser Duncan Smith noted that this year’s race was a stark contrast to previous years, which were plagued by relentless rain. “It’s been a brilliant day with fantastic weather, after three years when it’s absolutely bucketed down with rain,” he remarked.
With entry slots selling out swiftly, the event saw 165 children also joining in, participating in fun runs as part of the festivities. Spectator Yazmin Azad highlighted the community spirit fostered by the race. “It’s amazing. It’s a tradition that’s dated back so many years, and it just gets bigger and better every single year,” she added. “Everyone gets together, everyone’s racing. It’s an adrenaline rush and everyone loves it.”
