Running track revival project given £15,000 boost

Runners working to restore an eight-lane athletics track in Leeds have been awarded £15,000 to help fund the project.

Members of Crossgates Harriers and St. Theresa's Athletic Club want to bring the 400m circuit in Temple Newsam back into use.

Now, volunteers, who have already raised £13,000 towards the £30,000 total needed through crowd funding, and Leeds City Council have secured the additional monies from Sport England's Movement Fund.

Richard Whitehouse, secretary of Crossgates Harriers, said the club was "really looking forward to seeing the track resurfaced".

The "cinder" circuit on the Temple Newsam estate was once Leeds' main athletics facility, and the first in the city to be available for public use when it opened in 1954.

It was home to Leeds City Athletic Club until 1980, but in recent years had fallen into disrepair with potholes appearing in the track.

Since work to restore the site began in 2024 the running clubs have held a number of volunteering days to clear the track and edges of weeds and built-up soil, with resurfacing work expected to start in the spring.

Mr Whitehouse said: "It has been great working with the council and local volunteers to get this far. We are really looking forward to seeing the track resurfaced in the spring.

Mohammed Rafique, the council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "The Temple Newsam running track has a long history, and it is great to see how it is still valued by the local running community."

Neil Diamond, from Crossgates Harriers running club committee said he fondly remembered the track from school sports days, describing it as being "a prestigious arena" at the time.

Today, the club uses the track for speed work, training away from roads and competing in time trials.

Mr Diamond said some east Leeds locals also use it for their own training.

He said: "There's a number of veteran hammer throwers who use it, but young children also learn to ride bicycles on it.

"It had clearly fallen down in the council priority list and it had frayed around the ages.

"We're really looking forward to having a marvellous summer with a fabulous track."

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