A NORTH-EAST athletics official has called for a boycott of the popular nation-wide free-entry weekly Parkrun races.

The Saturday events are held in the North-East parks in Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough over five kilometres – but unlike races organised by local athletics clubs there is no financial contribution to the sport’s governing body, UK Athletics.

Alan Elders, treasurer of the Start Fitness North-East Harrier League and a member of the road running committee of the North-East Counties Athletic Association, wants clubs to discuss the objections he has raised with UK Athletics – and, if they feel the same, not to support the events.

Elders, secretary of Low Fell Running Club, says in an email to clubs: “I am all in favour of increasing the numbers in running but these park runs have been given a licence.

“It would appear that they have not paid for a licence for each race, do not award a sort of prize or prizes based on performance, do not pay any levies that we have to pay when we organise races and in general do not conform to the terms of the licence.

“There is no entry fee and no extra charge for non-club members.”

He adds: “They say it is a run against the clock but it is a massed start and results appear in Athletics Weekly. In effect it is a race.”

Elders has registered his objections with UK Athletics and urges clubs to do the same.

He says: “What is the point in clubs organising events and paying levies and fee for their members? What’s next – a 10K park run every Saturday?

There seems to be one rule for clubs and another for others.

“Can I suggest your club does not support them or add links to their web pages.”

Parkrun founder Paul Sinton- Hall said: “Of course I am very disappointed to see campaigns of this nature, especially where the person or body concerned has had the opportunity to meet with us and understand what we are doing, the benefits to others and especially the benefits to the organisations he supports and purports to want to help.

“In these days where we are all battling to get people off their sofas and participating in sports and activities it is important we all support each other’s efforts.

“At the centre or heart of Parkrun is a love for running, a desire to improve running in the schools, clubs and in the United Kingdom.”

He added: “Some of the facts being quoted by Alan are also incorrect and he has also misinterpreted the relationship between ourselves and UK Athletics.”

The Parkrun website shows that over 35,000 runners have taken part in nearly 1,800 runs throughout the country since the events began in 2004.