The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run 2008 Medal Competition – come and choose your front runner!

After the fantastic success of the first ever BUPA Great Yorkshire Run 2007, race organizers Nova International are already looking to next year's event which promises to have an extra special twist as Galvanize Sheffield and Wentworth Pewter have teamed up to run a competition to design a new medal. The winning design will be made and received by all athletes taking part in the 2008 race which hopes to attract 10,000 participants.

The competition leads up to the first ever Galvanize Sheffield: Festival of Contemporary Metal Design and Innovation which will take place from 14th November to 9th December 2007. This year's festival focuses on contemporary metal lifestyle products including jewellery, kitchen equipment, cutlery, tools and creative pieces for the home. There are exhibitions, factory tours, talks and demonstrations planned to take place in over 25 venues. Visitors to the festival will be able to take a look at the competition entries and choose their front runner from the display in the Central Library in Sheffield.

Cllr Tim Rippon, Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning said: "Sheffield is a city built on a rich tradition of skilled craftmanship and metal making with an international reputation for quality, style and innovation. The city also has a growing as the destination of choice for major sports events. This competition offers a unique and exciting opportunity to showcase both these areas of expertise."

Dave Newton, Managing Director of Nova International commented:
"Great Run is delighted to be involved in this exciting medal design competition for the BUPA Great Yorkshire Run 2008. It's a fantastic chance for Yorkshire based students and metal workers to design an innovative medal of a quality which matches Sheffield's strong metalwork heritage. We are thrilled that Wentworth Pewter and Galvanize Sheffield have teamed up to run this design competition for next year's participant's medals. This original medal will be well worth the time committed to training and the effort completing the 10 km event. Best of luck to all competition entrants! "

The competition, which is open to all metal designers who are resident or studying in Yorkshire, will be judged by representatives from Wentworth Pewter, Nova International and Galvanize Sheffield. The winner will receive a £500 prize and the chance to work closely with Wentworth Pewter to produce the finished product.

Richard Abdy, Managing Director of Wentworth Pewter commented:
"It's a great honour to be involved with the medal competition. At Wentworth Pewter we're very proud of Sheffield's rich heritage and its distinguished connection to the crafts industry. This will be a fantastic opportunity to promote Sheffield's talents to the world and celebrate the city's links to design whilst creating something really unique in metal."

For further information about the competition visit http://www.galvanizesheffield.com/.

For more information about the Great Yorkshire Run visit  http://www.greatrun.org/ Ends

For further media information please contact Eleanor Crawford, Bonner & Hindley Communications on 0113 279 9909 or email eleanor@bandhcommunications.co.uk

Notes to editor
Festival Partner Include: Sheffield City Council; Yorkshire South Tourism; Sheffield Assay Office; Sheffield Cathedral; Sheffield Hallam University; Yorkshire ArtsSpace Society; Freeman College; David Mellor Design; Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust; Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust