About KP Events

Sports Event Management

KP Events is a specialist community and sports events management company run by Paul Griffin and Kevin Wilson.

Formally Sport 1st Events, the team have managed numerous events including the Lichfield Half-Marathon, Xtreme Challenge all-terrain, Fradley 10k, Sutton Park 10K, Kingsbury Water Park 10k, The Lichfield Dash, etc.

Based in the center of the UK, in the city of Lichfield, KP Events has a long pedigree of sporting events going back to 1998 when they created the unique Lichfield Cathedral Dash. The Dash attracts people from all of the UK. A key event of Lichfield’s sporting (and cultural) calendar, the ‘Dash’ is a flagship event – raising money for numerous local charities.

Races in 2011

New in 2011 are an Xtreme Challenge run at Catton Park in February, the first Lichfield Half-Marathon in May plus the return of 10k’s in Sutton Park in June, Kingsbury Water Park in November and new 10k’s with a proposed race in Tamworth in October and Chasewater in November.

Additionally, the unique Lichfield Cathedral Dash is scheduled again for a 13th anniversary July when it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the event’s inspiration – the Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire, and the reintroduction of a Dash event in York in October.

Paul Griffin

Paul loves running and has played just about every sport you can think of. He has played competitive badminton for many years, and has trained in several martial arts. He has competed in many running and triathlon events over every distance.

He has also participated in the Great North Run, the London Marathon and Tough Guy, to mention just a few.

When not running, jumping or trying another sport, Paul is a successful businessman across Lichfield, South Staffordshire and Birmingham. Paul lives in Staffordshire with his fiancée, and two children George, and Millicent.

Paul first met Kevin in 1999 and decided to form KP Events together and develop it into a forward-thinking sports events company.

Kevin Wilson

Kevin is best known in the events business as the founder and organiser of the famous Lichfield Cathedral Dash.

Since 1998 this unique event is held every July as part of the Lichfield International Festival. Kevin has also taken the ‘dash concept’ to other Cathedral venues in York, Lincoln, Durham and Birmingham since 2003.

Kevin has been a key member of the organising team at the Fradley 10k since 2002 as well other regional 10k and 5k runs including Shugborough, Drayton Manor Park and Beacon Park in Lichfield.

Kevin lives with wife Josie in Staffordshire and has a son Stefan and daughter Laura.

KP Events is firmly established as a leading provider of top class running events in the West Midlands with plans to expand further afield over the next decade.