runners and riders

humorous idiomatic plural plural-only

(humorous, idiomatic) The candidates in a competition or leadership contest.

Japanese Meaning

（ユーモラスで慣用的に）競争または指導者選定の候補者たち

At the annual club election, the runners and riders gave playful speeches to win over members.

年次クラブ選挙では、立候補者たちが会員の支持を得ようと茶目っ気たっぷりの演説をした。

Sense（1）

(humorous, idiomatic) The candidates in a competition or leadership contest.

Labour leadership contest: who are the runners and riders?