Half-marathon organisers looking for more women to run (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Half-marathon organisers looking for more women to run

ORGANISERS of next month's Cricklade Fun Run are hoping to receive far more entries for the half-marathon from the town's female residents at this annual event on Sunday, October 5.

Last year, Cricklade Town Council donated shields to be presented annually to the first local male and female finishers.

But as no woman from the town competed, this particular trophy went unclaimed.

Last year's trophy for the first male resident went to Matthew Stone who finished in a creditable 46th place in a time of one hour 42 minutes and 11 seconds.

Overall winner of the race was Lee Christmas, from Stroud and District AC, who completed the course around Cricklade and Ashton Keynes in 1-18.11.

On that occasion, there were 121 entrants - mostly from the southern counties and South Wales. This year entries taken so far suggest that an even larger field is to be expected.

The half-marathon is one of three races making up the Cricklade Fun Run, which has been held on the first Sunday in October for the past 19 years.

The most popular race is the 10 kilometre event, which last year attracted a record 207 runners.

There is also a fun run which follows a 1.5-mile route around the streets of Cricklade and is designed to attract non-serious runners, families and children.

Both the half-marathon and 10k races are run under SEAA rules.

The event starts at 10.30am from near the Town Bridge in Cricklade High Street and finishes at the Leisure Centre.

The principal prizes, which have been sponsored by the Vale Hotel and Restaurant in Cricklade, include trophies for the first three male and female finishers, also for the first three male and female veterans in the two major races.

For the first time, there are trophies for the first male and female finishers aged over 50 and for the first male over 60.

In the fun run, trophies will be awarded to the first three male and female under 16 runners. Medals will be given to finishers in all three races.

Entry forms are available from Cricklade Leisure Centre (tel 01793 750011) or from the event website www.crickladefunrun.co.uk

Volunteers willing to spend three or four hours helping to run the event are now being actively sought at the Leisure Centre.