Kevin Sinfield OBE has revealed the official route for his epic Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge that will see him cover nearly 40 miles per day for seven days before finishing on the pitch at Old Trafford at half time in the mens Rugby League World Cup Final.
The Leicester Tigers Defence Coach has already raised over £5 million but now he is set to go even further in 2022 on a week-long challenge that will celebrate the awareness raised by three inspirational sporting characters who have done so much to raise the profile of those impacted by the disease.
Starting on Sunday, November 13, Sinfield will run from Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to Old Trafford in Manchester in his Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge.
Inspired by Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, Stephen Darby and other people living with MND, Kevin Sinfield will have an initial aim is to raise £777,777 from the challenge. Supporters can show their support now at https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield-ultra-7-in-7-challenge
The Ultra 7 in 7 challenge will support five charities which support people affected by MND, and invest in research to bring us closer to effective treatments and a cure for the disease.
The main beneficiaries will be the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity’s appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds. However, there will also be donations to MND Scotland, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation plus support for the 4ED campaign to support former Tigers player Ed Slater, who was recently diagnosed with MND.
The whole challenge will build to an incredible finish as Sinfield enters the field at Old Trafford at half time in the Mens Rugby League World Cup Final on Saturday, November 19 to complete his challenge having visited Melrose, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, York, Leeds and Bradford over the previous six days in his route south.
THE ULTRA 7 IN 7 ROUTE
Each days run will start just before 7am live on BBC Breakfast at the same point that the previous days run finished. The plan is for a stop each day around 10am and 12.45pm with the team due to finish around 3.30pm each day.
Members of the public and supporters are welcome to come along to the stop points to cheer Kevin and the team on and there will be an opportunity at these for you to donate to support the fundraising either with cash or via contactless payment.
Day One: Murrayfield to Melrose (Nov 13th)
1.1 Day 1 Route
Run from Murrayfield to Edinburgh City Centre along West Coates, entering along Morrison Street before turning on to Bread Street and turning left onto Spittal Street and along Johnston Terrace and along The Royal Mile. The route then turns right on South Bridge, following along until St Patricks Street, Newington Road, Minto Street and Craigmillar Park. Turn right onto Liberton Road before a left turn onto Gilmerton Road / Drum Street (A772). Stay on the Gilmerton Road (B6392) onto Melville Road heading towards Dalkeith. Travel along Newbattle Road and Main Street before turning left onto Muderdean Road (A7) passed the National Mining Museum Scotland. Follow the A7 to Torwoodlee Golf Course (53km), then return to the A7 and follow it to Gallashiels bearing left onto Melrose Road (56km), and then turning right on Winston Road (58.75km). At 59.1km turn right onto viaduct footpath and follow across the River Tweed, before joining Essenside Drive, then turning right on Tweedbank Drive (59.6km) before taking a left at the roundabout onto the B6360, which then becomes the B6374 (Waverley Road). Take a left on High Cross Avenue (62.5km) before ending at Melrose Rugby Club (62.9km).
6.57am – Depart Murrayfield
10.00am – Stop 1: Not accessible to public
12.45pm – Stop 2: Torwoodlee Golf Course TD1 2NE (53 km)
3.30pm – Finish at Melrose RUFC TD6 9SA (62.9 km)
Day Two: Melrose to Otterburn (Nov 14th)
2.1 Day 2 Route
Leave Melrose RUFC along Buccleuch Street and Abbey Street before travelling along High Road onto Main Street (A6091) before turning on to A68 for the majority of the rest of the route. Head South through St Boswells, Bonjedward, Jedburgh and Camptown. Cross the border into England at Elishaw take the left road (A696) at the fork into Otterburn, finishig at Otterburn Castle.
6.57am – Depart Melrose
8.30am – BBC Live interview Ancrum Amateur Football Club TD8 6SR
10.00am – Stop 1: Near School House Bed & Breakfast, Edgerston TD8 6PW (32km)
12.45pm – Stop 2: Border Forest Holiday Park, Byrness NE19 1TF (48.5km)
3.30pm Finish at Otterburn Castle, Brierley Gardens, Otterburn NE19 1NS (63.1km)
Day Three: Otterburn to Chester-Le-Street (Nov 15th)
3.1 Day 3 Route
Leave Otterburn and head South along A696 passing through Belsay, Westgate and Ponteland. At the roundabout for Newcastle Airport, take the first exit onto B6918 (Ponteland Road) stay on this road until junction with Brunton Road and travel up to Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park ground. Return back along Brunton Road and follow Ponteland Road (A167) towards the city centre. When the road becomes a dual carriageway, the route switches to a cycle path before turning right onto Moorside North. At the junction with Fenham Hall Drive turn left and follow the road to rejoin Ponteland Road. Turn right here, travelling down passed BBC Newcastle towards St James’ Park along Barrack Road (A189). From St James’ Park, leave via Gallowgate onto Blackett Street and passed Monument before turning right on Pilgrim Street down onto the Tyne Bridge. Once over the bridge, go straight before turning right onto Askew Road and then left onto High West Street. Stay on this road until it meets the Gateshead Highway before turning onto Durham Road (A167). Follow this road until it crosses the A1 at the Angel of the North. At this roundabout follow Newcastle Bank back onto Durham Road. Follow this towards Chester le Street as it turns into North Road and then Newcastle Road at the junction with A693. The road eventually turns into Front Street before turning onto High Chare. The route follows a footpath alongside Cestria Primary School to join up with Roman Avenue. Moving South travel along St Cuthbert Avenue, then along Lindisfarne Avenue and down Holmlands Park and finally onto Ropery Lane. Follow this road to Durham CCC.
6.57am – Depart Otterburn Castle
8.30am – BBC Live interview near Kirkwhelpington on roadside on A696 NE19 2RS
10.00am – Stop 1: Tomahawk Steakhouse, Ponteland NE20 0DH (32.25 km)
12.15pm – Photo opportunity at Kingston Park, Newcastle Falcons NE13 8AF (43.8km)
12.45pm – Stop 2: St James Park, Newcastle United, NE1 4ST (50.3 km)
3.30pm – Finish at Durham CCC, Chester Le Street DH3 3QR (66.8 km)
Day Four: Chester-Le-Street to Stokesley (Nov 16th)
4.1 Day 4 Route
Depart Durham CCC before turning right to cross the River Wear before heading South along Lumley New Road. Turn right just after the golf course down Back Lane before taking a left into Great Lumley along Broadviews, Riding Hill and High Barnes then making our way onto Front Street before crossing the A1 and turning right onto Pithouse Lane and follow the road to Leamside. Carry on along Station Road before crossing the A690 and going onto Pittington Road. Stay on this road, turning onto Front Street as it goes through Low Pittington and High Pittington. Carry on along Coalford Lane through Littletown along B1283 before turning right at The Blue House onto Salters Lane (B1280). Contine along this road through Wingate and Station Town before joining a cycleway that eventually meets with Hartlepool Road (A689). Turn right here and follow the road to Wolviston, crossing the A19 before turning right onto Wolviston Road, passing the golf course on your right before carrying along the Bypass around Billingham Beck Valley Country Park on your left. At the junction with the A19 follow the cycle way that runs adjacent to the A19 before taking the Newport Bridge Approach Road (A1032) to cross the River Tees. The route continues along Ironmasters Road before turning right onto Marsh Road. Follow this until it turns into Station Road, continue along onto Zetland Road before turning left at Middlesbrough train station and then right along Lower Feversham Street, continue along Winward Way until reach Riverside Stadium. Carry on along Dockside Road before following the road around and South towards Cargo Fleet Lane (A171). Follow this road all the way through Ormesby before eventually taking the A1043 at the Swans Corner Roundabout. At the next roundabout, the Poole Roundabout, turn left onto A172, stay on this road, passed the Strikes Garden Centre, before taking the second exit at the next roundabout for the B1257 for the finish at North Riding County FA.
6.57am – Depart Durham CCC
8.30am – BBC Live at The Blue House Salter’s Ln., Haswell, Durham DH6 2AP
10.00am – Stop 1: The Stables, Wynyard, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham TS22 5QQ (33km)
12.45pm – Stop 2: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough TS3 6RS (50km)
3.30pm – Finish at North Riding FA, Broughton Road, Stokesley, Middlesbrough TS9 5NY (65.3km)
Day Five: Stokesley to York (Nov 17th)
5.1 Day 5 Route
Depart North Riding FA and join A172, continue along here for 13km until the road merges with the A19. Follow the A19 South passed Knayton before turning off the A19 near South Kilvington to join Stockton Road (A61). Follow this road through Thirsk before joining York Road (A170), rejoining the A19 after Thirsk Garden Centre. Continue along the A19 passing Birdforth and Thormanby at the roundabout at Rawcliffe on the outskirts of York continue straight along Shipton Road. Keep straight on this road as it becomes Clifton and Bootham, passing St Peters School before entering the centre of York via High Petergate and finish at York Minster.
6.57am – Depart North Riding FA
8.10am – BBC Live at The Blue Bell Inn, Ingleby Cross, Northallerton DL6 3NF
10.00am – Stop 1: Thirsk Garden Centre Blakey Ln, Thirsk YO7 3AB (32.5km)
12.45pm – Stop 2: Craig Lidster Racing, Well Close Farm York Rd, Easingwold YO61 3EN (51.2 km)
3.30pm Finish at York Minster, Deangate, York YO1 7HH (67.4 km)
Day Six: York to Bradford City (Nov 18th)
6.1 Day 6 Route
Leave York Minster and head along Museum Street to cross the river before turning down Rougier Street and a quick right turn onto Tanner Row before eventually coming onto Blossom Street via Micklegate. Follow The Mount to Tadcaster Road alongside York Racecourse (A1036). Follow the road out of the city until it merges with A64. At Lawtons of Tadcaster take the turn onto York Road (A659) heading towards Tadcaster. Follow this road as it becomes Commercial Street across the River Wharfe at High Street and then Leeds Road (A659). Keep on this road before rejoining the A64. Follow the A64 to the outskirts of Leeds before going straight on at the roundabout at Seacroft Tescos. Turn left onto York Road before taking a right on South Parkway towards Fearneville Leisure Centre. Travel along Wykebeck Valley Road before right turn onto Oakwood Lane and an almost immediate left onto Coldcotes Drive towards Harehills. The route continues along Foundry Approach which eventually leads to Stanley Road at Beckett Street Cemetery. Turn onto Beckett Street at the top of Stanley Road running past St James’ Hospital on the right. Turn right up Granville Road before turning onto Lincoln Road, Cherry Lane and Skinner Lane. Follow this road until you meet North Street, turn left then right onto Grafton Street at the Leylands. The route crosses the Inner Ring Road before turning right up Merrion Way behind the back of the Leeds Arena and bringing the route out near Leeds Beckett University and the Rob Burrow mural. Then follow Woodhouse Lane passed the University of Leeds to Hyde Park before turning left down Victoria Road and turning right at Cardigan Road before a left turn into St Michaels Lane and Headingley Stadium. Leave stadium across the railway bridge before a right turn onto St Anne’s Road and then turn left onto Kirkstall Lane and head downhill to Kirkstall. Cross the River Aire at Kirkstall before going up Broad Lane towards Bramley. Continue along, passed Stanningley Park before merging on to Town Street and then Bradford Road (B6157). Stay on this road as it becomes Leeds Road before moving onto Leeds Old Road at the Odeon Cinema. Continue along Barkerend Road as it becomes Church Bank at Bradford Cathedral. Follow the road around the cathedral onto Lower Kirkgate and up Cheapside, Manor Road and Manningham Lane (A650) before turning right onto Valley Parade.
6.57am – Depart York Minster
8.30am – BBC Live at The Barn, St. Joseph’s Street, Tadcaster LS24 9HA
10.00am – Stop 1: Langlands Garden Centre, Leeds LS15 4NF (29km)
11.30am – Photo opportunity: Headingley Stadium Meet Rob Burrow LS6 3BR (42.5 km)
12.45pm – Stop 2: Lala’s Restaurant, 501 Leeds and, Bradford Rd, Pudsey LS28 8EE (51km)
3.30pm – Finish at Bradford City AFC, Valley Parade, Bradford BD8 7DY (56.4km)
Day Seven: Bradford City to Old Trafford (Nov 19th)
7.1 Day 7 Route
Depart Valley Parade retracing the route from the end of Friday back into Bradford City Centre before heading down to Centenary Square and heading along Manchester Road. Turn right onto Park Road and Little Horton Lane, travelling past Co-Op Academy Grange on St Enoch’s Way. Continue along Wibsey Park Avenue, Farfield Avenue and Carr House Lane before joining Witchfield Hill (A6036). Follow this road as it becomes Spring Head, Halifax Road and Bradford Road. At the Stump Cross Inn join Godley Lane. On the outskirt of Halifax join the A58 heading towards the town centre. Just after the car garage on the right, turn right onto King Cross Road before joining Rochdale Road and turning left onto Pye Nest Road and Bolton Brow. Follow Wharf Street across the River Calder before turning left on Station Road and then soon after turn right onto Boggart Lane. Take a left onto Sowerby Croft Lane before a right onto Harper Royd Lane. Follow this road as it turns into Hob Lane before a right turn onto Moor Bottom Lane and Butterworth End Lane. Follow the road until you reach Greetland Road before turning left onto Jackson Lane and Rishworth Road. Turn right at the T junction onto Saddleworth Road (B6114) around Ringstone Edge Reservoir and across the M62. Turn right at the T junction with Huddersfield Road (A640), running passed Dowry and New Years Bridge Reservoir. At Denshaw, at the Junction Inn, take the second exit onto Oldham Road (A672) carry along the road as it becomes Ripponden Road. Continue along here as it passes through Sholver, Moorside and Watersheddings. At the T junction turn right onto Huddersfield Road and then Oldham Way before turning off on to King Street (A627). Cross the road onto Chamber Road and follow this all the way to Manchester /Oldham Road (A62). At Failsworth, the route will drop down onto the Canal towpath of the Rochdale Canal for 6km before coming into Manchester City centre at Trinity Way. Turning left onto Port Street and then along Newton Street and onto Portland Street (A5103). Turn right up Chancery Lane before cutting through Clarence Street onto Princess Street and then John Dalton Street. Turn left onto Deansgate to arrive at Box.
The final route from Deansgate to Old Trafford will be confirmed on the day depending on specific traffic arrangements in place for the Rugby League World Cup Finals at Old Trafford.
6.57am – Depart Bradford City
8.30am – BBC Live at People’s Park, Park Rd, Hopwood Ln, Halifax HX1 2TS
10.00am – Stop 1: Marsden View B6114, Huddersfield HD3 3FT (30 km)
12.45pm – Stop 2: Morrisons, Newton Heath Poplar St, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0HY (51.5 km)
2.30pm – MND Association event: Box Deansgate 125 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BY (57 km)
4.30pm – Finish at Old Trafford (61 km)
