Princess Royal jokes with Sir Kevin Sinfield about joining his team on horseback

The Princess Royal joked with Sir Kevin Sinfield that she could join his running team on horseback as she met supporters during the latest stage of his final endurance event for motor neurone disease (MND) charities.

According to a report by Dave Higgens for the Press Association, Sinfield is completing an ultra marathon every day for seven days as part of his “7 in 7: The Grand Finale” venture. He was welcomed at the University of York’s sports centre on Monday by Anne and scores of well-wishers.

During their conversation, Sinfield agreed with Anne that the term “fun run” was a “contradiction”.

Anne said: “I can run but I don’t do it for fun. I’m past that stage.”

When Sinfield told her she was welcome to join at any point, she replied: “I’ll stick with horses.” After a member of his team said nobody had joined them for a leg on a horse, Anne laughed and said: “That would be nice.”

Sinfield said he would prefer the weather to be much wetter because people watching on television might think he was having a hard time, which could help fundraising. He also told Anne that bacon sandwiches were part of his nutrition strategy.

The Princess Royal watched Sinfield complete four laps of the university athletics track with supporters before banging a drum seven times to send him on his way. She also spoke with people supporting the event, including many living with MND.

Former England rugby union player Lewis Moody, who announced last year that he had been diagnosed with MND, surprised Sinfield by attending after previously saying he could not make it.

Moody described Sinfield as “a remarkable human being” and said he wanted to be there to thank him for his work. He added that Anne’s “energy and presence” were “a fantastic thing for this community”.

Inspired by his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years, Sinfield and his team have raised more than £11 million for the MND community since his first annual challenge in 2020.

This year’s fundraising is set to benefit six charities: the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association.

Each ultra marathon is divided into seven-kilometre blocks, which must be completed within an hour before the next block begins. An “extra mile” event is also taking place each day, with Sinfield joining members of the MND community for four laps of a running track.

The challenge is visiting the home grounds of the 12 English Betfred Super League clubs before finishing at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final. Sinfield’s son Jack is due to play for Wakefield against Warrington in the final.

Monday’s route continues to the LNER Community Stadium, York Minster and York racecourse, with the finish at Bishopthorpe Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of York. Former England manager Gareth Southgate also joined Sinfield’s team during the run towards the finish.