Covid crisis leads to two more major cancellations

The latest events to fall victim to Covid-19
King's Lynn Stars and Run Norwich won't be racing this year Credit: ITV News Anglia

The Covid-19 crisis has led to two more major cancellations.

The organisers of the Run Norwich race announced today that it had been forced to call off this year's event.

  • Watch Andy ward's report on last year's event

Event organisers - run by Norwich City Community Sports Foundation - said it had been forced to cancel the event in order to 'remove uncertainty and worry for runners' and reduce financial losses for the charity.

On the event website described the decision as:

The event - which attracts thousands of runners - helps support a number of initiatives for people with disabilities, programmes to improve mental health or those suffering with loneliness.

Runners will have an option to apply for a refund or, the charity hopes, donate the fee towards the group's activities in return for benefits for next year's race.

The news came as British Speedway announced it had been forced to axe all professional speedway this season.

The move comes after the Prime Minister confirmed crowds would not be allowed back inside sporting grounds before October at the earliest.

Rob Godfrey, Chairman of British Speedway Promoters Ltd, said:

It means no competitive action for King's Lynn Stars who finished second in last year's Premiership league, or rivals Ipswich Witches, Peterborough Panthers.

Mildenhall Fen Tigers in the National Development League will also miss out.

  • Watch an interview with King's Lynn Stars, Ipswich Witches and Peterborough Panthers owner Keith Chapman

King's Lynn Stars, Ipswich Witches and Peterborough Panthers owner Keith Chapman told ITV News Anglia that the cancellation was a "massive blow" the sport.

"It's a massive blow, you know, the whole stadium (King's Lynn's Adrian Flux Arena) has been terrible for economics because we've not been able to run anything all year," he said.

"Obviously, it's a big outgoing so we need everything we can to run but there's loads of businesses in the same position so we just have to write this year off and hopefully build next year."