“It’s a massive disappointment” COPS 30 Miler cancelled over safety concerns

One of the organisers behind the extremely popular COPS 30 Miler has expressed his disappointment the event will not take place this year.

Last year’s event, a 30-mile load-bearing trek across rugged Northumberland countryside, had to be cancelled after the Royal Marines said they could no longer assist.

As the only load-bearing event of its kind where participants run alongside serving Royal Marines, the COPS 30 miler was as close as it gets to the real thing and has raised significant funds for COPS in the past.

However, without the support of the marines, and because the trek is so tough, it meant for safety reasons it had to be cancelled.

The event was the idea of Simon Guilfoyle (pictured right) and Lee Gosling, both serving police officers, who had secured official endorsement and logistical support from the marines.

Simon said: “If we were to try to do it on our own, without the marines, we’d need a massive crew – it’s just not possible.

“When we found out we had to cancel the 2021 event I was gutted, I was really disappointed. We tried out best to keep it going but we just couldn’t.”

He added that despite trying his best to get the event on for 2022, it would not be happening.

“It’s a massive disappointment,” Simon admitted.

“We’re upset we can’t do it – it was a unique event that was full of amazing people which raised a lot of money for COPS.”

The challenge aims to closely replicate the famous 30-mile trek across Dartmoor that Royal Marine recruits must complete as the final test at the end of their training.

Simon said: “The thing with the COPS 30 Miler is it’s an actual challenge – and it is incredibly hard to complete.

“In 2019 we had people who had taken part in the real one and they told me that the COPS 30 Miler was harder!

“We’ve had people taken off as they couldn’t go on. It was quite common for people to not finish it.”

Almost £10,000 was raised for the charity for last year’s COPS 30 Miler, even though it didn’t happen.

£9,829 was raised prior to the event which went to COPS, along with the Royal Marines Charity.