NEXT WINTER’S 2XU Surrey League will return to Richmond Park after a letter was sent to local MP Zac Goldsmith about the jeopardy surrounding its staging.
Kingston & Polytechnic Harriers (K&P) has organised cross-country races in the park since the league’s inception in 1962, although it has not been on an annual basis and the park authority was set to refuse permission due to the large number of events planned.
However, according to the league’s secretary, Martin Duff, also an AW correspondent, the mother of K&P athlete Matthew Hyett wrote a letter to Goldsmith, an environmental campaigner best known for his unsuccessful bid to become London mayor earlier this year, citing London 2012’s legacy.
The Royal Parks manager, Simon Richards, said: “I have reviewed our position on this and am happy to say that we are content for it to go ahead as normal.” He also invited the club into further discussion about future events.