Prize Fund Confrmed:
The prize fund depends on the number of full Festival entries received. With entries now more or less confirmed a fund of £4000 has been agreed with the Festival Treasurer. It is always our aim to ensure prizes are spread amongst a large number of athletes and this will continue in 2010.
Prize Fund Confrmed:
The prize fund depends on the number of full Festival entries received. With entries now more or less confirmed, a fund of £4000 has been agreed with the Festival Treasurer. It is always our aim to ensure prizes are spread amongst a large number of athletes and this will continue in 2010
Entries list still increasing:
At the time of writing – Sunday 28th March – the entry list stands at 241. All the big university teams from recent years – Aberdeen Cambridge, Durham Old Boys and Girls, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/DOSS, Manchester – are returning, some with bigger squads than ever. Hercules Wimbledon look to be the largest club entry along with Hunters Bog Trotters and host club Manx Harriers
It is great to see a good number of university Past and Present teams competing including Aberdeen, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester and a number of club teams as well.
Former Festival winner James Walsh, controversially not selected for the Great Britain Team at last weekend’s World Cross Country, is returning to regain his old title. However, he can expect tough competition from England International Adam Grice and the Scottish Gillespie brothers – Michael and Matthew.
Defending women’s champion Emma Waterhouse is back after a good winter which included a second place in the Scottish National Cross Country Championship.
The event attracts a good number of locals and although defending 10k champion Keith Gerrard is in the USA, the in-form Kevin Loundes will be hoping the make an impression at the front of the field. We expect more locals to enter on the night for the 10k in particular.
Back to the future:
The Hercules Wimbledon team includes a couple of stalwarts from Festivals in the 1970’s. The photo below of the 1974 imperial College team includes Stuart Littlewood and Ian Isherwood whose Festival participation actually dates back to 1972. Can anyone beat that? Stuart’s son Alex is also competing in this year’s event.
Back row (left to right): Stu Littlewood, Rob Parker, Andy Baxter, Pete Johnson, Pad Donnelly, Rob Maddison, Richard ‘Alf’ Garnett Middle row (left to right): Andy Fairhead, Ian Isherwood, Rob Allinson, Mike WelfordFront row (left to right): Keith Ahlers, Steve Webb.
Support from local companies:
Confirmation received this week of help from a couple of local businesses helping the Festival. First of all 4Hire – www.4hire.co.im – are helpng with the van to transport equipment from race to race. Also, Bushy’s Brewery – www.bushys.com are providing support for the commemorative Festival t-shirts. Help like this enables us to put more money into the prize list – please support them if you can.
Course changes for 10k confirmed
Following a landslide in Port St Mary in January, the raised coastal walkway is closed so it is necessary to amend the route in the Port St Mary area. This will mean an additional climb around 6k, part of the normal route being run in reverse and a loop around the village. Full details will be provided in the infomration packs due to be issued next week.
Supporters packs
Family & friends may purchase a return coach ticket to both Port Erin & Peel for just £6 or prize presentation tickets for Sunday night (£4) Please contact Kim Harding on 01624 628403or emailkimharding@manx.net to book.
Results
There will only be a limited number of printed results this year. All results will be published atwww.results.manxtiming.com as soon as possible after each race. There will also be a scoreboard with live race results displayed at the results trailer located close to the finish of each race.
Leeds University/DOSS
Long time Festival supporters look set to be the largest group in the event planned to bring a party of over 30 competitors and supporters.
Outback Sports Bar
As well as hosting the Festival Prize Presentation and Party, the Outback Sports Bar and Nightclub are sponsors for the Easter Sunday races and will also provide light refreshments at Sunday lunchtime
Final Entry date approaching:
The official closing date for entries for this year’s Festival is fast approaching with entries due by Saturday 20th March.
The Manx Harriers promoted Festival starts on Good Friday evening in Port Erin with a 10k road race. On Easter Saturday afternoon the action moves to Peel for the famous Hiil race. The weekend concludes on Easter Sunday morning with a 5k road race for women and 4 x 5k road relay on Douglas Promenade.
It is possible to enter the full Festival or individual events. The 10k road race traditionally attracts the largest entry with fields of around 250 in recent years.
It will be possible to still enter after 20th March but a £2 per race premium will be levied.
10k road race route;
Following a land-slide at Port St Mary in January, a small part of the course remains blocked. Discussions are ongoing with the Isle of Man Department of Transport on whether the route will be cleared by Good Friday. Contingency plans are in place for a detour should this be needed. It is intended that the race distance will still be 10k. More details to follow in due course.
Entries on the way:
Entries are now starting to come in for this year’s Festival. Don’t leave your to the last minute as all entries received after Saturday 20th March will incur a £2 per race surcharge.
So far enquiries have been received from as far afield as Belgium and Ireland, Hercules Wimbledon AC, who retuned after an absence of around 20 years, are planning to bring a much bigger group this year of around 20 athletes.
Air links to the South West:
Anyone travelling from South West England might be interested to know that Flybe – www.flybe.com – are starting a new service from Bristol at the end of March. Flights from £29.99 one way. This will supplement the service to Gloucester M5 airport operated by Manx2.com – www.manx2.com
