Tankersley Woods

Navigating around Tankersley during a fast-paced middle distance race is as complex as the intricate earthworks that remain following decades of industrial activity on the area.

Competitors can look forward to springtime displays of bluebells among the contours in the natural oak woodland which forms much of the area. Patches of maturing shrubs and younger trees growing on reclaimed spoil heaps add some variation, keeping runners on their toes!

Tankersley is underlain by six beds of coal measure ironstone. From 1793 until the early 1880s, ironstone mining came to dominate large parts of the estate to supply the Thorncliffe ironworks. Much of the ironstone was extracted using 'bell-pits' or 'gin-pits'. The result of the working was to throw up what appears to the casual observer to be rows of giant mole-hills.

Melvyn Jones (Historian), 1984

Location and Travel

Tankersley is situated 10 km north of Sheffield City Centre, just off Junction 35A/36 of the M1.

Parking will be on hard standing in the Winston and Thorncliffe Business Parks, which will also be used on Day 3. The Arena will be a 2-3 km walk away, depending on parking location (route shown below). Buses will be provided to transport the oldest and youngest from Parking to the Arena.

For those using public transport, Chapeltown Train Station - a 12-minute train ride from Sheffield - is a 3.5 km walk from the Arena. Taking the frequent public bus service from Chapeltown to the Wortley Road/Thompson Hill stop (10 mins) reduces this walk to just 1.1 km.

Previous Map

Most recently used for the CompassSport Cup Final in 2021, a previous map of Tankersley can be seen on the SYO Routegadget.

Officials

Planners - Maria Mackenzie & James Meredith (EBOR)

Controller - Michael Chopping (RAFO)

Assistant Controller - Colin Drury (SYO)

Organisers - Mike Cope (CLARO) & David Jolly (HALO)