The Castle Hotel
Saltwood Boxing Day Run website
History of the run
Casual beginnings
The run had an almost accidental birth in 1974. A group of disparate
Saltwoodites decided to meet to blow away the seasonal metaphorical cobwebs
and physical hangovers by going for a run on boxing day.
It started from Brockhill School and ended at Slaybrook, followed by a
warm-down stroll back to the village, and for all, a visit to the Castle Hotel.
A competitive edge crept into the run and challenges were made and a team race
was mooted for the following year.
The first real race 1975
The following year the beery challenge was on. Team captains Tim Morphy and
Ross Samsom recruited their teams and a motley crew met at the Village green.
The teams strolled up to Brockhill School field. Tim was the starter, suddenly
shouting “go” and off went 15 runners not knowing quite what history they were making
(or even knowing why they were starting)! Unsurprisingly Tim took an early lead down
to the stream and up 40 steps. The field was a morass and the gate was chained. The
former was waded and the latter climbed or vaulted. Though Pedlinge and down through
the woods the positions remained unchanged, Andrew Brownsword was in third place. Tim
stumbled on the last corner and Stuart took the lead. The last climb and final descent
saw the gaps between the first three widen to 80 metres.
Regarding the team position, Tim was a little miffed to learn that Stuart was a ringer,
living in Nottingham and on a parental visit.
However a few beers later that didn’t matter and it was decided to repeat the
exercise but as an individual event. The Boxing Day Run was born.
if you want to see a
Scrollable map of the course click here then use 
Back arrow, (top left) to return here.
The Course
The course started as 2.6Km but now is a natural 4.85Km circuit, starting and finishing in
Saltwood village. There cannot be many better or more scenic runs and it is, has and will be the training ground
of many excellent runners. The course has named features which are part of the Boxing Day folklore. These are
some of them.
- Kesby Corner in honour of Fred who marshalled here until his death.
- Forty Steps. Goes back to ancient times.
- Filby kissing gate. In memory of Terry Filby, former runner.
- Shin-cracker Bridge. Fairly self-evident.
- Slaybrook Corner. Scene of ghost sightings - Not on Boxing day though!
- Hippo Swamp. A very boggy area; run round or run through and get stuck?
Click here
- Terry's Vantage. Popular former runner, Terry Davis. He died of motor neurone desease - the money we make
goes towards the research into this terrible destroyer of lives.
TO BE CONTINUED