Pontefract junior parkrun

Train: Use either Tanshelf Railway Station (Wakefield; Featherstone; Pontefract Line) or Glasshoughton (Leeds; Castleford; Knottingley Line).
Bus: Bus services run frequently along Park Road from Pontefract and Castleford.

From Pontefract town centre, proceed along the A639 Park Road towards Castleford and Junction 32 Outlet Centre. Pass Tanshelf railway station following signposts to Pontefract Racecourse and Xscape. The park and racecourse is approximately 0.25 mile past the railway station, on the left hand side.

From Pontefract: Follow the A639 towards the M62 Junction 32 and Castleford. The entrance to the park and racecourse is first left off the first roundabout (McDonalds on the right).
From the M62: Leave at junction 32 and travel towards Pontefract. The racecourse and park is on the right hand side after passing beneath the railway bridge. The entrance to the park is from the first roundabout (4th exit). Once in the park, proceed to a mini roundabout (about 100m) and either park in this area or turn right towards the race circuit (not the Grandstand).
There is a narrow road crossing over the racecourse circuit leading to more car parking. Abundant free parking is available within short walking distance of the start/finish.

Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: a local café. Please come and join us!

Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in a local café - please come and join us!

Pontefract junior parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. To make the event as safe as possible, participants, spectators and volunteers are asked to take note of the following rules and guidelines:

• Whilst parkrun fully accepts its duty of care and will do everything it can to minimise risk of injury and harm to all participants whilst at parkrun events, it is parent/guardians who ultimately have responsibility for the welfare of their children.
• It is not mandatory for a parent/guardian to participate in junior parkruns, but children under the age of 11 must be accompanied to/from the event by a responsible adult, and the responsible adult must remain in attendance for the duration of the event.
• junior events are open and inclusive. Disabled people may participate wherever it is safe for them to do so. The event team can provide disabled participants with course information in order that the participant (or their parent/guardian) can make an informed decision about their safe participation.
• Whilst more competitive children can use junior parkruns to test themselves against their own time, and against others, participation should ultimately be for fun, and we urge all parents/guardians/volunteers not to put children under undue pressure to perform.
• junior parkruns are running, jogging and walking events, and the use of children’s scooters, balance bikes, trikes or cycles is prohibited.
• Slower runners are encouraged to seed themselves, by starting towards the back of the group especially if an adult is accompanying them.
• junior parkruns are timed events. Only those aged between 4 to 14 years old completing the course themselves will be given a result. ​
• Exceptions to this rule are subject to the discretion of parkrun head office. Examples include those over 14 with special educational needs (SEN) or those with a registered disability, for whom social interaction and physical activity may be difficult but important.
• A strict ‘no barcode no result’ policy will be enforced.
• Buggies are allowed, subject to course conditions, but only if the adult pushing the buggy is accompanying a junior parkrunner. Adults with buggies are urged to position themselves appropriately for the safety and enjoyment of all.
• With the exception of assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed to accompany walkers, joggers, runners or volunteers at junior parkrun events.
• Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
• Spectators should keep clear of participants on the course and keep control of any children and dogs.
• Participants should take care near roads and car parks, congregate away from the cars and be careful if driving to/from the event.
• Photography or filming is likely to take place at junior parkrun events. Please see our photos page for more details.
• Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.

Please consider helping the event by volunteering - this event survives only because of your generosity. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.

All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email pontefractjuniors@parkrun.com to help.

parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.

To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.