Dunfermline Press | Sport | City race one of UK’s best

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 14th December, 2006 12:00

City race one of UK’s best

By by Simon Harris

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Pic by: Dunfermline Press

ATHLETICS chiefs have described Dunfermline’s annual half marathon race as one of the UK’s best.

The accolade comes as the 2007 race was launched this week under the banner ‘Run Dunfermline’.

The race will once again double up as the national half marathon championships, while a new junior run will attract some of the cream of Scottish junior athletics talent to Dunfermline.

Since it was revived in 2002 after a two-year gap by race director John Martindale, the city’s half marathon has grown in size and reputation and has now been transformed into a festival of running.

In addition to the main half marathon, the 2007 race weekend (26-27th May) will also boast a 5K race in Pittencrieff Park on the Saturday, a family fun run, cross-country and road relays for more than 1000 West Fife primary school pupils and a healthy living expo thought to be the biggest of its kind in Scotland with more than 70 exhibitors set to showcase.

Always on the lookout for new ways of getting as many folk as possible in their trainers, Martindale has added a new ‘Junior Run’ for 2007 with accompanying mixed relays at under-13, under-15 and under-17 level which will attract the very best junior runners to Dunfermline. Scottish Athletics have also awarded this new event provisional Scottish Championships status.

Marjory Cook, convener of the Scottish Athletics road running and cross-country commission, said, “Dunfermline is rated as one of the best and most popular events on the road running calendar.

“We’re pleased to award the Scottish Half Marathon Championships to Dunfermline again in 2007.

“Year after year the organisers deliver an event of the highest quality which consistently exceeds the standards we demand from our championship hosts.

“We’re also pleased to hear that there will be new events for junior runners this year too. We’re delighted with the contribution the organisers are making to the development of road running in Scotland.”

Andy Freeman, marketing manager of sports firm ASICS (UK), added,

“It’s one of the best events, if not the best, I’ve attended anywhere in the UK.”

Martindale was pleased at keeping the Scottish national half marathon championships and told Press Sport, “The whole team is delighted – it gives the volunteers a big lift too to see the best in Scotland passing through the streets close to home.

“The city and Fife are proud of their association with an event now rated as one of the best in the UK. We seek to improve every year but we also want to look forward and add new features.

“We have a full programme of events under the ‘Run Dunfermline’ banner and that really starts with the Carnegie Harriers’ ‘Auld Toun 10K’.”

Michael Maloco, of main sponsors Maloco & Associates, added, “It’s been very pleasing to see the event grow in stature and become such a strong fixture on the Scottish and, indeed, UK sporting map.”

Online entries for all the events can be made at www.dunfermline-half.co.uk while there’s a 24-hour information hotline number – 08701 241 241 – where entry forms can be requested.

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