The Joe Percy 10Km invitational race

Longwood Harriers A.C. in association with MP Events
12th June 2024 7:30 p.m.

About the JP10K

The event is held annually mid week in June and is by invitation only to clubs and members who have current England Athletics registration (members will have a URN - Unique Reference Number - which will be needed on any application).
Your club will let you know how to enter once they have been invited
The date and time this year (2024) is:
Wed 12th June 7:30pm
The link below is the PDF sent to clubs this year with full details of entry online and maps etc. :

Team manager info >

Entering the event

The race has always been hosted by Longwood Harriers A.C. and is named after one of our previous Club Presidents (see information below). For the last few years it has been organised and run in association with MP events (Matt Pattison).

The link below is for team managers to enter their teams after they have been invited by email.

Please read the 'Team Manager info' on the left here before entering.

Team manager entries >

The Venue

Since its inception the 10Km race has taken place around the roads of the Thurstonland, Farnley Tyas and Storthes Hall areas of Huddersfield, with start and finish changing over the years. The race HQ is at the Stafflex Arena, Shelley Community sports arena, Storthes Hall Ln,
Kirkburton, Huddersfield HD8 0WA. The start and finish are nearby on Wood Lane (allow five minutes walk)
Access to the event Car park is via the University accommodation at Storthes Hall Park. Please do not park in Storthes Hall itself - follow directions to the event car park

Google maps - the venue >

10 Km Road Race in Huddersfield

An invitational annual road race hosted by Longwood Harriers A.C. Huddersfield around Storthes Hall Park, Farnley Tyas and Thurstonland

About Joe Percy
Joe Percy was what most people would call a gentleman. He joined the club (Longwood Harriers, Huddersfield) in 1929 and was an active member of it for well over 60 years, either running for it or running it until his death in 2001. He was an ever present at local, regional and national cross country races, his particular passion - and he was passionate about the sport and extremely knowledgeable about the running of it at all levels. Whilst his loyalty was with Longwood Harriers in the first instance he was undivided in his desire to be of service to the sport in this region. Another loyal member of the club, Granville Beckett, set up the West Yorkshire League in 1968, which still host Track and Field and Cross Country races today.

Joe Percy's service was recognised in some way when he was appointed President of the English Cross Country Union (ECCU)
The photograph is taken from his book written for Longwood’s Centenary in 1988, the writing of which was an achievement to be proud of and one that continues to provide access to the early years of the sport in the Huddersfield area. Regular weekly paper-chases being one example of the way things used to be run. The book also charts the ups and downs of the club through that particular century

Here’s an excerpt from his introduction…
‘Sixty years a member of Longwood Harriers A.C. and I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of it
As a runner I was never an international star, but I always enjoyed a battle on the club runs on a Saturday afternoon, and the joy of selection to run in the county championships. When all the runs were over, no luxury of a shower, but a tin bath of cold water in the yard for us – happy days’
I like to think of myself as a team man though I managed to win the club cross country races and the road races, taking the fastest time awards. But at the end of the day, I used to look forward to laying trails around Huddersfield and district for the lads to follow
One thing stands out more than anything else, and that is the friendships and the joy of mixing with others from all over England. Long may it continue to be so…’

(Text by Andy Miller, Longwood Harriers)