The Maldon Mud Race
Every now and then Maldon will reach the national media and, more often than not, it will be because of the Maldon Mud Race.
Previously held between Christmas and New Year, the 2010 event was moved back, due to adverse weather conditions, to April 2011 and organisers have since decided that spring time is a better season for the race and, more importantly, for spectators – 12,000 flocked to Promenade Park to watch the delayed 2010 event. |
The race consists of a 500 yard dash, at low tide, from one bank of the River Blackwater to the other and back again. The front runners will complete the course in 3-4 minutes whilst the stragglers will take anything up to one hour. Leaders tend to run – the rest crawl, wade, toil and plod. To be fair, the mud quickly deteriorates into a bog for those at the rear – the key seems to be to hit the front early.
A list of recent winners can be found below:
A list of recent winners can be found below:
The odd celebrity appearance only adds to the buzz of the occasion. Comedienne Jo Brand managed to finish last in 2010 with funny man Sean Lock finishing an unrespectable 227th.
Spear throwing world champ Fatima Whitbread took athletes through a warm-up in 2009 before officially starting the race. |
The 2013 Maldon Mud Race will be started by no other than Martin Peters, World Cup winner from Englands only footballing success in 1966.
The origins of the Maldon Mud Race can be traced back to a bet at the Queens Head pub in 1973 when thirsty patrons begged the landlord for a free beer. They could have their beer said the landlord – but it would be waiting on the other side of the Blackwater. And so was born the tradition of running over the mud, downing a pint, and running back.
No event took place between 1989 – 1994 and again between 1998 – 2000. However, the event has experienced something of a renaissance over the last decade and the race would seem, at least for the time being, to have become a permanent fixture.
Somewhere along the way, for better or for worse, charity replaced alcohol as the main purpose of the event. The race is now organised by Maldon Mud Race Ltd which selects the charities to receive the bulk of the fundraising. In 2012 the lucky recipients were:
Entrants will have to stump up £45 to take part and raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorship. Fall short of this figure and you make it up out of your own pocket. Competitors can donate up to 50% of their sponsorship to charities of their own choice with the rest going to those chosen by Maldon Mud Race Ltd.
The 2013 edition will take place at 3pm on Sunday 5th May. If you want a good view then be sure to get there early!
The origins of the Maldon Mud Race can be traced back to a bet at the Queens Head pub in 1973 when thirsty patrons begged the landlord for a free beer. They could have their beer said the landlord – but it would be waiting on the other side of the Blackwater. And so was born the tradition of running over the mud, downing a pint, and running back.
No event took place between 1989 – 1994 and again between 1998 – 2000. However, the event has experienced something of a renaissance over the last decade and the race would seem, at least for the time being, to have become a permanent fixture.
Somewhere along the way, for better or for worse, charity replaced alcohol as the main purpose of the event. The race is now organised by Maldon Mud Race Ltd which selects the charities to receive the bulk of the fundraising. In 2012 the lucky recipients were:
- Marie Curie Cancer Care
- Essex Air Ambulance
- The Princess Trust for Carers
- Little Havens Children’s Hospice
Entrants will have to stump up £45 to take part and raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorship. Fall short of this figure and you make it up out of your own pocket. Competitors can donate up to 50% of their sponsorship to charities of their own choice with the rest going to those chosen by Maldon Mud Race Ltd.
The 2013 edition will take place at 3pm on Sunday 5th May. If you want a good view then be sure to get there early!