Change: Stockhausen and Laufsport-Team Lowick take over Citylauf organisation

After 23 years and 21 events, the initiator and "Mr. Citylauf" Ullrich Kuhlmann is handing over the main organisation of the "Bocholt Citylauf" to new hands. Andreas Stockhausen and a six-member organisational team from the Lowick running department will replace him and Maria Rickert, who has accompanied the Citylauf since 2009.

Kuhlmann remembers the beginnings: "At the beginning, we thought that we might have 200 to 300 participants at the start of such a run. But then we were overrun and already had 1,000 participants at the first City Run."

The organisers had hit a nerve with the introduction of a people's run through Bocholt's pretty city centre. Year after year, the City Run gained in popularity and those who were not fast enough at registration were no longer given a starting number. "It was sometimes the case with the 10-kilometre run that we were already fully booked after half an hour," Kuhlmann looks back.

Transition carefully planned

Kuhlmann, also called "Mr. Citylauf" by many, has been preparing the handover for quite some time. "We have been in talks since the last event in 2022 and I - just like Maria Rickert - will also still accompany the transition. So we can ensure a smooth transition, that is close to my heart," Kuhlmann assures the new organiser and his team of his full support.

"We will distribute the responsibilities and tasks on several shoulders," announces the new chief organiser Andreas Stockhausen. He is officially the "Citylaufbeauftragte des Stadt-Sport-Verbandes" and is to be the link to Verein Sportfreunde 97/30 Lowick, its main club, and the organising team. "The Lowick running department is very pleased to take on more responsibility for one of the biggest sporting events in Bocholt and to help ensure that the Citylauf can continue to take place in this setting in the future," adds Stockhausen.

Established organiser association remains

The organisers' association with Stadt-Sport-Verband Bocholt, Stadtmarketing Bocholt, Stadt Bocholt and Sportfreunde 97/30 Lowick will remain in place. Above all, the close coordination with Ludger Dieckhues from the city marketing department, which has always gone hand in hand over the years, will remain. "That will continue," announces Kuhlmann, and Stockhausen adds: "Nothing will change in terms of the schedule, the helpers, the sponsors, the cooperation with the schools."

Only a few places left

The next Bocholt City Run will take place on 6 May 2023. There are currently still a few places available for the 5 km run and the 10 km course.