Santa Race (BBC News website) - Hey Valley Vegan - were you there :-)

December 9, 2004

Santas accused of street brawl

Festive cheer and goodwill was in short supply in Newtown when people

dressed as Santa were involved in a mass street brawl, say police.

Officers used CS spray and batons to break up trouble amongst up to 30

people, following Newtown's annual charity Santa run.

There were five arrests hours after around 4,000 Santas finished

racing.

Race organisers said if any official participants had been involved in

the trouble, they would be banned in 2005.

Those arrested have all been released on police bail while further

inquiries are carried out, Dyfed-Powys Police said on Thursday.

A number of others have been interviewed about their alleged

involvement in the incident in the town's Severn Street on Sunday, which

happened shortly after 2230 GMT.

Four officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle and a total

of eight were used to quell the disturbance, said police.

Pc Gareth Slaymaker, community safety officer for north Powys,

confirmed that many of those involved in the alleged brawl were still

wearing their Santa outfits.

" This is the sort of behaviour that gives a well-organised event a bad

name, leading to the belief that it is just becoming a beer festival as

mentioned in the press a few weeks ago, " he said.

" Behaviour like this justifies the reluctance by the police to extend

the licensing hours for public houses and bars for this type of event. "

Dougie Bancroft, spokesman for the festive run's organisers

Dial-a-Ride, said: " The trouble occurred seven hours after the Santa Run and

I understand some people involved were dressed as Santa.

" But I'm not sure if they actually took part in the race because Santa

suits were left by many in the town's park.

" If we find that people connected with the run, be it marshals,

stewards or anyone else, were involved in the incident we will not tolerate

them and they will not be involved in the race next year.

" We don't want anything to tarnish the reputation of the event or the

charities which benefit from the Santa Run. We support the police in their

action. "

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates, who took part in the run, denied claims

that it was turning into a beer festival.

" There's no way people can link the Santa run to the drunkenness and

violence that ensued after the race, " he said.

" I understand 200 charities will benefit from this year's run and the

organisers do a wonderful job planning the event to make sure Newtown,

Montgomeryshire, Dial-a-Ride and the charities get the most out of it.

" The problem with excessive drinking is not the responsibility of the

Santa run but of pub landlords and individuals. "

Last year, runners raised £80,000 for charities and it is hoped the

2004 total will be higher.

Organisers are still waiting to hear if they have broken the world

record for having the most number of Santas in the same place.

December 11, 2004

Don`t look at me Jo, I wasnt there!

Sounds like a lot of Christmas spirits were to blame, I.E. bunch of piss heads!

The Valley Vegan....Jo bb <Heartwork wrote:

Santas accused of street brawlFestive cheer and goodwill was in short supply in Newtown when peopledressed as Santa were involved in a mass street brawl, say police.Officers used CS spray and batons to break up trouble amongst up to 30people, following Newtown's annual charity Santa run.There were five arrests hours after around 4,000 Santas finishedracing.Race organisers said if any official participants had been involved inthe trouble, they would be banned in 2005.Those arrested have all been released on police bail while furtherinquiries are carried out, Dyfed-Powys Police said on Thursday.A number of others have been interviewed about their allegedinvolvement in the incident in the town's Severn Street on Sunday, whichhappened shortly after 2230 GMT.Four officers suffered minor injuries

during the scuffle and a totalof eight were used to quell the disturbance, said police.Pc Gareth Slaymaker, community safety officer for north Powys,confirmed that many of those involved in the alleged brawl were stillwearing their Santa outfits."This is the sort of behaviour that gives a well-organised event a badname, leading to the belief that it is just becoming a beer festival asmentioned in the press a few weeks ago," he said."Behaviour like this justifies the reluctance by the police to extendthe licensing hours for public houses and bars for this type of event."Dougie Bancroft, spokesman for the festive run's organisersDial-a-Ride, said: "The trouble occurred seven hours after the Santa Run andI understand some people involved were dressed as Santa."But I'm not sure if they actually took part in the race because Santasuits were left by many in the town's park."If we find that

people connected with the run, be it marshals,stewards or anyone else, were involved in the incident we will not toleratethem and they will not be involved in the race next year."We don't want anything to tarnish the reputation of the event or thecharities which benefit from the Santa Run. We support the police in theiraction."Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates, who took part in the run, denied claimsthat it was turning into a beer festival."There's no way people can link the Santa run to the drunkenness andviolence that ensued after the race," he said."I understand 200 charities will benefit from this year's run and theorganisers do a wonderful job planning the event to make sure Newtown,Montgomeryshire, Dial-a-Ride and the charities get the most out of it."The problem with excessive drinking is not the responsibility of theSanta run but of pub landlords and individuals."Last year, runners raised £80,000

for charities and it is hoped the2004 total will be higher.Organisers are still waiting to hear if they have broken the worldrecord for having the most number of Santas in the same place.