Organisers of the Great Santa Run in Las Vegas have confirmed their final numbers of Santas in their 2009 event as 7,094 which is just 142 more than the Dashing Santas of Liverpool! So, the winners of the first World Santa Challenge are Opportunity Village, representing the city of Las Vegas.
The Great Santa Run will be the first recipients of the World Santa Challenge Trophy which has been hand crafted by the Tasmanian team who were also taking part – but finished in third place picking up the first Grinch Award!
Alan Rothwell from the Liverpool Santa Dash was complimentary in defeat saying…”whilst it is naturally disappointing to have not won the World Santa Challenge at the first attempt I’m sure we can lift the trophy next year. I’m sure that when the people of Liverpool see how close the final numbers were they will go flat out to beat the Las Vegas team in 2010!”
Although there were just three participants in the first year there is already keen interest from across the world to take part in the World Santa Challenge in 2010. The Tasmanian team have established good links with major cities in Australia and likewise Las Vegas is doing the same in the U.S.A. No doubt their new found status of Winners of the World Santa Challenge will raise the profile of this unique competition.
Alan Rothwell also commented… ” on the back of the first hosting of the World Santa Challenge it is great to see so many other cities across the world are now interested in taking part. I have had contact with eight other European cities about entering the competition next year and if we can get around a dozen competing cities in the second year then that would be absolutely brilliant. Hopefully Liverpool will emerge as winners in 2010 despite the increased competition!”
The raised profile of the World Santa Challenge brought about by the introduction of the annual Challenge Trophy will give any Festive Fun a clear focus in future years. The creator of the trophy, Steve Martin is pleased to see the efforts of the Enormity Charity in Tasmania are helping to bring the Santa Fun Run phenomenon to the world stage saying… “for a relatively small community to have such an impact on a world event is very satisfying indeed. We are absolutely delighted to have been part of the creation of a world initiative and our congratulations go to Linda Smith and her team at Opportunity Village in Las Vegas.”
The last word must go to Linda with Las Vegas being the winners of WSC1. Linda said…” after a lot of hard work and effort from a dedicated team here in Las Vegas I’m thrilled that we have won the first World Santa Challenge. It is just reward for the enormous amount of work that many people in Las Vegas have put in leading up to the event. Our thanks also go to the amazing Santas of Liverpool and Tasmania for taking part. I do hope they will take part once again in 2010… but just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!”
We’ll see!Sam Worthington Jake Sully