Abbey Dash: Tributes to 'truly inspirational' Leeds runner who helped launch famous 10k race

Hetta Morath, a founding member of Abbey Runners, died at St James’ Hospital on Sunday (September 29) after a battle with cancer.

The 83-year-old was among the team who launched the Abbey Dash in 1986 along with her late husband Colin. It is Yorkshire’s oldest and best-loved 10k race, and has raised more than £4 million for Age UK since it began.

Mrs Morath was remembered this week as a lover of the outdoors with a “zest for life” that brought people together.

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The mother-of-three came to running later in life at the age of 40, when her husband was already taking part in races. It was around then that he entered her into the London Marathon, and she quickly became hooked.

A year later, she started meeting with a group of other runners outside the Original Oak in Headingley - and by 1985 they had adopted the name ‘Abbey Runners’, with Mrs Morath and her husband on the committee.

Many outings followed, including to routes like the Cleveland Way and the Wolds Way, as well as the chance to enter bigger races.

Most impressively, she was selected to run for England in the 1990 Home Countries International, which England won. She also picked up a silver medal for her age group in the World Fell Running Championships in Keswick in 2005.

On three occasions, she was the winner of the Abbey Runners Ladies Cup in the cross country series.

Among the marathons taken on by the decorated athlete were in New York and Athens, the latter being known for its particularly difficult terrain.

Friends recalled Mrs Morath being at her happiest when she was outdoors, exploring the countryside of Yorkshire. Yet it was indoors that saw one of her greatest achievements.

In the World Indoor Rowing Championship in Boston, when her running days had come to an end, she took silver in her age group.

Later in life, running was replaced with walking and Mrs Morath was a popular member of the Wednesday Wonderers.

Her friend, Maureen Coffey, said: “Hetta had a zest for life that brought friends together and encouraged us to share our memories of her with others.”

Recalling the early days of the Abbey Dash, Mrs Coffey said: “There was no chip timing and the results were processed by hand over cups of tea in Hetta's kitchen in Roundhay.”

She added: “Hetta will be so sadly missed by her friends. Our meet-ups for tea at The Mansion House on a Monday afternoon won't be the same without her. I know there will be many people in Leeds that will remember her fondly.”

Current members of the Abbey Runners also reflected on Mrs Morath’s legacy. In a statement, they said: “Hetta was one of the founding members of Abbey Runners in 1984, and was instrumental in building the club to what it is today, alongside her late husband Colin.

“She was a truly inspirational runner, and still holds to this day many of the club’s all time age graded records. We will miss her immensely but her legacy will continue to thrive at Abbey Runners.”