Half Marathon Date Nears

Final preparations are now in place for this year’s Co-operative Stornoway Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run. The event will take place on Saturday May 29th and will be the 25th anniversary of Stornoway Running and Athletics Club’s organising of the event. SRAC are delighted to secure not only an annual sponsor through the Co-operative but also three other local companies’ support which will greatly help in funding the 25th anniversary event.

G&A Barnies, Ortagar and Harris Tweed Hebrides have all lent their support to the event this year. Runners in this year’s half marathon and 10k race will in addition to their finishers medal will also receive a commemorative mug and event technical t-shirts will be available at cost price. The new sponsorship has also allowed SRAC to offer the winning team of three runners a cash prize of three hundred pounds! This hopefully will add to the competition on the day, attracting club teams from the mainland. Club’s expected to be in contention for the prize include; Portobello Running Club, Bellahouston Harriers, Hunters Bog Trotters (HBT) and local club SRAC!  HBT have all ready posted interest with an early entry from Dave Wright who recently placed in the top three at the Edinburgh half marathon and he will be joined by the like of the Callanish Stones marathon winner Ivor Normand, however SRAC will offer stiff local competition for the visiting clubs’ with defending champion Andrew Joyce and the in-form Jonny Pritchard leading the team!

SRAC are indebted to all the event sponsors that in the main will be known to the general public with the exception of Ortagar. Based on the Isle of Lewis Ortagar is a company specialising in Project Management expertise to all sectors of the industry including Rural Development, IT and Construction. Ortagar offer a comprehensive portfolio of services designed to assist with any aspect of a project, their clients include household names. SRAC welcome the help of Ortagar as well as the well know Harris Tweed Hebrides with their iconic produce, G&A Barnies electrical services and main sponsor the co-operative!

As SRAC (and in particular organiser Jason Laing) work towards race day all local entrants are encouraged to register for their chosen distance, 10, Half marathon or Fun Run as soon as possible. There will also be much to be done on the day and any voluntary groups wishing to assist the event, which will have many runners raising cash for charity to contact SRAC or the race organiser. Details of the event and race entries can be seen at, www.srac.org.uk . Entry forms area also available at the Sports Centre, Jackies Garage and there is online entry on born2run website.

SRAC anticipate approximately 150 runners in the half marathon and an increase in the 10k which in it’s second year offers a “not so far” option! Once again local schools are encouraged to enter the Fun Run en masse and contest the popular “Fastest School in the West” contest! Keep running with a smile and see you Saturday 29th May!

A Tupper