A POPULAR endurance event near Brampton has been postponed because of the impact of the coronavirus.

Last year, Gelt Gladiator event director Mike James cancelled the 2020 event, due to the ongoing pandemic, vowing to come back in 2021.

In the announcement on the event’s website, at the time, he added: “This statement is not an easy one to make, in fact its an emotional one.”

The event was launched in 2015, and takes place in Walton.

Initially, a June 2021 date had been pencilled in.

However, on Sunday however Mike made the announcement on Facebook that the event would be postponed from June to September.

He said: “Gelt Gladiator will not take place in June this year, but instead we intend to move the date to likely September 11 and 12.

“With the Covid-19 pandemic now into a very severe second wave I feel that there will be too much uncertainty around events still going ahead around June time and that September will give us much more realistic time to get the event on.

“Over the next month or so I will discuss these options with the landowners and the local authorities.

“We will then relaunch the official date at some point in February with some early bird special offers for the thousands that will potentially take part in this amazing local mud run this year.

“Remember it is important to #supportlocal and help save local events and I would hope to see record numbers when we go again later this year.

“Thank you for everyone’s kind support over the past year and all current entries will be automatically transferred to the new date once it’s officially confirmed.

“In the meantime, please stay safe but keep training, running and walking because it’s very important to keep both physically and mentally fit during these very low times.

“See you in the mud again soon.”

Competitors can take part in a number of races or obstacles.

They can choose between the 10k, 10 mile, 6k and 3k events.

The 10k obstacle course event is the most popular where competitors tackle heights, ropes, mud and water.

In 2019 it saw more than 1,500 people take part over the two days, ranging from children and those with disabilities to some of the fittest adult competitors.

A number of people took to social media to express their support.

One said: “Hopefully it can go ahead.

“Missed it last year, but a round of applause for thinking of others when you desperately need it to go ahead for your business.”

For more information about the Gelt Gladiator, or to sign up for the event, go to its website address at: www.geltgladiator.com