#AmazingAccrington’s Soapbox Challenge returned for 2022 on Saturday, 27th August, with the run itself created down Blackburn Road and finishing in the Town Square. It was superbly well attended, with 15,000 visitors from all over the North West all enjoying the spectacle and weather. All profits made from entry fees will once again go to Maundy Relief, the charity set up to benefit the people of Hyndburn.
BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver and Sharon Hartley racing in the Amazing Accrington Soapbox Challenge
The event was so popular #AmazingAccrington have already pencilled the date in for next year, Saturday 26th August – 20 places have been released for early bookings, you can book in on www.amazingaccrington.co.uk.
The 170-metre long Soapbox track for competitors to race down had some pitfalls for competitors. The track included chicanes, jumps, and competitors were squirted with 50 water blasters handed out to young viewers! The spectacle continued in Town Square where the carts were displayed in pit lanes, to ensure a good view of the soapbox vehicles.
Worthy winners were once again the E&R Group with their Chicken Run, and competitors were dressed to the nines. Onlookers were treated to everything from Nuns on The Run and Dick Dastardly, to a very special cart made for BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver and Sharon Hartley, designed by listeners and brought to life by students at North Lancs Training Group.
An exciting addition to this year’s event was The CODE Show, a local coding roadshow that celebrated how 1980’s Britain embraced the home computer. There were BBC B Micro, Sinclair ZX81, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64s amongst others available to have a go on in the Market Hall. The exhibition, 3 x 80” big screens and interactive computer stations were suitable for all ages and created an impressive display. Exhibits also on display included a Sinclair C5 electric vehicle!
Winners of the 2022 Amazing Accrington Soapbox Challenge, E&R Group with the Chicken Run
Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington, commented: “What a fabulous day – the weather was great and to see so many people enjoying the event and packing out Accrington is just fantastic. It was a fair contest and congratulations to the winners. Other towns are interested in us running a Soapbox Challenge so next year we may have a series of events!”
Heath Groves, CEO of Sundown Solutions added, “This was possibly the best event ever hosted in Accrington over this last decade – to see the entire community brought together like this is simply fantastic!”
Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council commented, “Amazing Accrington have done it again. I’ve never seen the town so packed, more than 15,000 visitors. What a fantastic day!”
Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden said, “What a fantastic event we’ve got here in Accrington with the Soapbox Challenge. Huge thank you to Amazing Accrington. Huge crowds here, this is what we like to see – Town Square, the town centre and all the shops being used – so thank you to everyone involved.”
The Amazing Accrington Soapbox Challenge saw 15,000 visitors
Gary McNab, The Code Show commented: “Thank you very much to Amazing Accrington, it’s been a fabulous day. It’s been wonderful to see children embracing coding and parents recalling their memories of using their computers!”
Sponsors for the Soapbox Challenge include Sundown Solutions, Nelson and Colne College Group, Emerson & Renwick, and Financial Affairs.
Check out the Amazing Accrington website www.amazingaccrington.co.uk and their social media channels for more coverage from the event.
