Latest news with #RoundhayPark
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Leeds Ironman event to be held in city for first time
Leeds is to host its first Ironman event on Sunday with organisers hailing the city's "passion" for triathlon racing. About 2,500 athletes will take on the gruelling endurance challenge, starting in Roundhay Park and consisting of a 3.8km (2.4 mile) swim, 180km (112 mile) bike ride and a city has been associated with triathlons thanks to the achievements of the Brownlee brothers and The Brownlee Centre - the UK's first purpose-built triathlon training Leeds has not hosted an event since the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series. Ironman race director Lewis Peacock said: "I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to race in Leeds." "It's an iconic location," said Mr Peacock."Triathlon and Leeds, they go hand in hand. It's got such a rich history in the sport."Mr Peacock said Ironman events were enjoying "an upward trend" in Britain and across the world, with the challenge "becoming more relatable and achievable for your everyday person".However, he said: "It does take a lot of hard work, a lot of training, a lot of commitment and a lot of sacrifice to get to the stage where you can complete an endurance event of this nature." A total of 2,430 people will take part in the event, including 352 youngest competitor will be 18, with the oldest aged 78. The average age of those taking part is just over 39, organisers said."There's a lot of variety in abilities of people taking part and we hope we are going to get all of them across the finish line," said Mr event - the only full Ironman triathlon in England this year - will begin at 06:00 BST. After athletes finish an open-water swim in Waterloo Lake, they will then complete a three-loop cycle route that runs through or near Shadwell, Thorner, Bardsey, Wike, Harewood, Eccup, Arthington, Adel and will then head back to the park for the marathon, which consists of four laps around the site and its surrounding streets. Road closures A number of road closures will be on place for the cycle event and include:Carr Lane between Shadwell and Thorner (closed 06:00 to 15:30)Bramham Road and part of Thorner Road, both to the east of Thorner (closed 06:00 to 15:30)The A61 Harrogate Road between the A659 at Harewood and Wike Lane (closed 07:00 to 16:30)The A61 Harrogate Road between Wike Lane and Wigton Approach, near the Grammar School at Leeds (closed 07:00 to 17:30)Alwoodley Lane between its junctions with King Lane and the A61 Harrogate Road (closed eastbound 07:30 to 17:30)Road closures in Roundhay for much of Sunday include North Park Grove, Gledhow Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Old Park Road and the stretch of Street Lane between Devonshire Avenue and Princes Avenue. Park Avenue will be closed near the Lakeside Cafe from 06:00 on Saturday until 17:00 on are expected to start crossing the finishing line – located near the park's cricket pavilion – from around 14:00. 'Special' event Athletes from as far as the US and the United Arab Emirates will be among those on the start line, with more than half of them taking part in their first race will be much closer to home for 21-year-old Sam Hollis, from Moortown."It's quite a special thing to be able to do it on your doorstep," said the teaching assistant."When we were kids all we did was go around Roundhay Park. Everywhere we are racing is somewhere relevant to me."Mr Hollis, who has been training since November, said he was inspired to take up triathlon after watching the Brownlee brothers win two medals at the London 2012 is also using the biggest physical challenge of his life to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of his grandmother Barbara, who died with the illness in 2003 aged her birthday falls on Sunday."It's nice to do something in her memory," said Mr Hollis, who cycled to Birmingham and back to visit his girlfriend on several occasions as part of his training."I'm looking forward to it and excited to get it done now." Euan Holwill will also be on the start line, although the 24-year-old medical student from Cookridge admitted he wasn't looking forward to the first challenge of the day - a 03:00 alarm."I have been going 100 times a day between being really excited and existential dread," he said of the race."The sensible part of me is going: 'You have trained for seven or eight months and you are ready'."Then the other part of me is going: 'This is a stupid thing to do, it's going to hurt so much'."This is going to be the hardest event I have ever done. It's going to be a massive challenge." For 29-year-old wealth manager Ryan McCarthy, his biggest challenge has been fitting in training."You have to remember that it's a hobby at the end of the day," said Mr McCarthy, who wanted to complete his first full Ironman in the city he fell in love with as a student from 2014 to Londoner's busy schedule means training has sometimes consisted of late-night sessions on an exercise bike at home and 05:00 starts before taking on an Ironman in a city close to his heart was a "no-brainer".Having given up drinking as part of his preparations, he said he was looking forward to enjoying a few beers after the event and devoting more time to his fiancé Hannah and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - and Mr McCarthy's occasional running companion - Maisie. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- BBC News
'There has to be a way for us to co-exist' with travellers
After social media posts detailed anti-social behaviour, intimidation and property damage from a travelling encampment in Roundhay Park last month, Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said he wanted authorities to be granted powers to move travellers on more quickly. When the BBC visited the park, people enjoying the public space said it was not the presence of travellers that was their concern, but the "mess" left behind."I have no problem with them being here," James Robertson said, as he walked his dog through Soldiers' Field."It is part of their culture and they travel about; I chatted to a couple of them and they are all right." The 39-year-old said while he was "not bothered" about groups camping on public land he was "slightly annoyed" by mess."I think there needs to be a bit more of a provision in place for when they are here; in previous years, they have set up skips but this time there was nothing." Mr Robertson said discarded wood chippings, flagstones and pipes could be seen on Roundhay Park after the travellers left last month."It is fly-tipping at the end of the day," said Mr Robertson."I just think we need to work out a way to co-exist together so that everyone is happy."A number of incidents of anti-social behaviour, including vandalism to allotments, had been reported while travellers were staying at the park in recent months and holder Katherine Gilboy said her father had been "pelted with rocks" by children from the camp in March."When challenged, they ran out through a hole that they made in the fence and then just continued to keep coming back and throwing rocks at various people at the allotments," she Gilboy also complained of people defecating in the said: "It is obviously incredibly traumatic and unhygienic, especially where people are trying to grow their own fruit and vegetables."It got to the point where a number of people don't feel safe being on their allotments and have had to leave."West Yorkshire Police said it had increased patrols in the area while the travellers were present and had monitored behaviour at the camp.A spokesperson for North Leeds Cricket Club said they lost "thousands a year" due to vandalism and cancelled events because of travellers, describing the impact in recent years as "hell"."The worst year was over £10,000," they said."We have gone past the point of being angry or upset. It's something we have just become accustomed to now." Local authorities have legal powers to evict unauthorised campers from land they own, and the police can act if there is disturbance, disruption and anti-social Hamilton, who represents the Leeds North East constituency, said he wanted "legislation that allows orders granted instantly, so that removal can take place within hours, if not a day or two, rather than days and weeks".Roundhay resident Tony Quinn said that quicker removal would only "speed up the merry-go-round" of eviction and push the groups to other areas."If the decision is taken to evict people who have unauthorised access on Roundhay Park they will just end up at Fearnville or Thorner or Temple Newsam," he said."They would just be on a faster roundabout." The 69-year-old has been a member of the Friends of Roundhay Park for 30 years and said he felt "quite strongly" about keeping the park in good said to see it "being used as a garbage tip" was Hamilton's comments, Leeds City Council said it "considers the potential for negotiated stopping for all unauthorised traveller encampments within the Leeds boundary".Negotiated stopping is an agreement pioneered by the charity Leeds GATE (Gypsy and Traveller Exchange).The policy works when an encampment agrees to work with the local authority, allowing them to stay on the land no longer than 28 pledge to leave the site clean, using toilets and skips provided for them. Since travellers left Roundhay Park, the council has placed boulders at entry points to the green space to block vehicular access, though a number of caravans were seen on the park again on Mistry told the BBC a wider West Yorkshire strategy was needed to allocate suitable spaces for travellers to camp. The 58-year-old, who lives nearby and walks her dog regularly on Roundhay Park, said: "There must be green spaces that are suitable."Then you give them a set time to be there in which case they move on to another allocated green space so it is controlled."I think pushing them too quickly without anywhere to go just creates another problem elsewhere."Nomadism is not illegal in the UK but travellers can only park on authorised sites which can be either council-owned or privately-owned under a encampments can be considered a breach of civil law. Ms Mistry believes travelling communities should be able to move from place to place "with ground rules"."I think we've all got different ways of life, I come from an ethnic minority group and we live in a way that is harmonious with the rules and the laws of this country."We have all got to share these spaces and you need some rules around how we share those spaces so we can all live harmoniously."Ian Longford, who walks on Roundhay Park during his lunchbreak, said travellers should have the right to pull up on public land as "there is plenty of room"."I do not mind them stopping here, as long as they are not bothering other people or just leaving a mess behind really."I do not think you will gain any benefit from forcing them to conform to what everyone else does." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Leeds City Council wants to host larger events at Roundhay Park
Leeds City Council wants to increase the capacity of Roundhay Park to almost 70,000 to host more major events there in park staged some of the biggest names in music in the 1980s and 1990s and welcomed Ed Sheeran for two shows in authority has submitted a licensing application to increase the current capacity from 19,999 to 69,999.A spokesperson said the extra capacity would allow the council to "potentially facilitate larger events from 2026, similar to the iconic events that Roundhay Park has hosted in the past". The spokesperson said the change would apply to the entirety of the park, which covers more than 700 acres and is thought to be one of the biggest city parks in the application is approved, Roundhay Park would become one of the largest outdoor venues in the previously held a licence to hold 79,999 people, but this was reduced due to a lack of demand in was temporarily raised in 2019 for the Ed Sheeran Rolling Stones played there in 1982 - one of only four British venues on their European tour that 1987 the park hosted Genesis, six weeks before Madonna performed in front of 73,000 fans there when she opened her Who's That Girl World Tour in Leeds.A year later, Michael Jackson played at Roundhay Park on his 30th birthday, while Irish rockers U2 performed in front of 54,000 fans in the park as part of their PopMart tour in Williams also played two concerts there in 2006.A consultation on the council's application will run until 29 July before a decision is made at a later date.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest warned to tell 'the truth' about 'Kennedy dead' poster that nearly went in the bin
An Antiques Roadshow guest was warned to 'tell the truth' about their 'Kennedy dead' poster that nearly went in the bin. A previous episode of the BBC show, which was filmed at Roundhay Park in Leeds, saw a couple ask for advice from expert Clive Farahar about their newspaper post from the 60s. The married couple brought forward a poster that said 'Kennedy dead' with 'Evening Standard' underneath it - rereferring to John F Kennedy's death in 1963. Clive was interested to know how they got their hands on it and the man explained that his parents had some utility furniture while growing up in London back in the 50s. The expert explained that utility meant that it was items made during the war, to which the man continued: 'And one of the items was a sideboard which I inherited... 'Earlier this year, we needed some space in the garage...' In a previous episode of the BBC show, which was filmed at Roundhay Park in Leeds, saw a couple ask for advice from expert Clive Farahar (pictured) about their newspaper post from the 60s But before he could finish his sentence his wife brutally said: 'The truth?!' She continued to tell her side of the story: 'I decided the garage was a tip. And we needed to tidy it up. 'And he said the sideboard was just full of old paintings and you know, the sort of stuff you keep.' And her husband confessed that they came across the poster, which was 'probably laying there for 60-odd years.' Clive confessed: 'As far as poster art is concerned, it is so stark isn't it? 'As a piece of poster, it's hard to think of it being valuable...' 'That nearly went in the recycling bin,' the woman confessed. And a shocked Clive replied: 'No you didn't?!' and she told him: 'You [her husband] came out the garage and went "Ooh look at this! This is really..." and I went "Put it in the recycling bin!"' Clive then told the couple what the piece of paper was worth. 'I'm going to put £1,000 on this,' he told them. 'You nearly got rid of it! You nearly dismantled it,' he added. The pair were over the moon with the news and said: 'Wow.' It comes after an Antiques Roadshow guest's jaw dropped as they learned the whopping value of a Rolex watch that they bought for just £200. In a recent episode of the BBC show, which originally aired in 2022, a number of guests travelled to Woodhorn Museum in Northumberland to get their special items looked at. One man brought along a watch for expert Richard Price to look at. Richard told the guest: 'So, Rolex collectors obviously know what this is and this is a Rolex Oyster GMT Master. 'And they refer to everything by the reference number. In this case, it is the reference 1675. 'It's also here on the bill of sale which I see is from a Hong Kong retailer in the early part of 1971. 'It's obviously not bought by you so who bought it in 1971?' And the man explained how he got his hands on it and said: 'It was basically a gift to my dad and about give years ago, he passed it to me for inheritance. 'He's still alive, but he just thought give it to me to see what to do with it and it's been in a drawer ever since!' Richard then shared the history of the watch, explaining that the airline history in the 40s and 50s made longer trips, and pilots flew on GMT. Pan American Airways has a discussion with Rolex to develop a watch with an extra hand to set it to GMT - it was developed for the airline in 1954. The watch became the standard GMT master. 'What is so lovely about this is that you have got all the paper work,' Richard said. 'What is so lovely about this is that you have got all the paper work,' Richard said (pictured the watch and its paper work) He pointed out that the bezel was original, but the value may have been reduced if it wasn't, but the bracelet wasn't the original. The expert pointed out that he thought it was purchased for £200, and then went on to say how much he think it is now. Richard said: 'That £200 50 years ago has actually done quite well. 'If it had the original bracelet with the full set, we could have put two noughts on and made it £20,000. 'But it's not got the original bracelet. 'So I'm going to take it back to in this condition, around £14,000.' The guest was lost for words and said: 'What?! Woah! No way.' Richard asked: 'You happy?' 'Yeah!' the guest replied. 'I didn't expect that at all.
