Anger as Muller pull plug on Market Drayton race

A major running event in Shropshire, which is backed by dairy giant Muller, has been cancelled by the company, it was revealed today.

Now fed-up runners who had already entered the race have vowed to boycott the firm's products in protest at its late cancellation. The company has pulled the plug on the popular Muller 10K, which was to be held in and around Market Drayton for the eighth time on May 8.

Last year, the event attracted about 1,500 entrants, but Muller said today it had cancelled the event to free up staff time to work on other voluntary and community projects.

The company said the event had become a victim of its own success.

Richard Stewart, from Whitchurch Whippets Running Club, said about 600 runners had already entered the 2011 event.

He said: "This has caused a lot of inconvenience to many people and I have already purchased train tickets to allow my daughter to travel from Plymouth University to take part in this event.

"Everyone has been promised a refund of their entry fee, but Muller have let a lot of people down. There are many people, myself included, who will not be purchasing Muller products, as a protest at this late call-off.

"We have many disappointed members who are unhappy about the decision made by Muller and at no time was any request made to provide assistance to the event."

Müller Dairy UK chief executive, Gharry Eccles, said: "We have made significant changes to how Müller Dairy contributes to the community, which will again see hundreds of staff days given over to volunteering with good causes this year.

"Having piloted our new approach last year. we are confident that this approach will have a greater impact and be of direct benefit to more people.

"As a business, this allows even more of our staff to apply their skills and energies to helping local charities and to spread that effort throughout the year," added Mr Eccles.

"Unfortunately, as part of that review, we have had to take the difficult decision that we cannot sustain the amount of staff time and resources involved in organising the Müller 10k road race, which has grown way beyond our expectations; and would detract from our new broader agenda.

"Last year, more than 1,500 runners took part in the event and even more could have been expected this year."

By Tom Johannsen