Stellar line up for P&O Ferries Antrim Coast Half Marathon

The P&O Ferries Antrim Coast Half Marathon takes place on Saturday 12th September as an elite only race.  Mo Farah, Marc Scott, Ben Connor and Lily Partridge are  just some of the names at the top of the runbritain rankings that have signed up for the event that runs along the beautiful Antrim coastline this weekend.  

A week after the world hour record ,Sir Mo Farah (handicap -6.5) is the prime draw in the men’s A race., that starts at 0815hrs The British Half Marathon record holder with 59:07 set in 2019 is the holder of 10 World and Olympic titles and announced his participation last week.

Ben Connor  (handicap -6.8) has been working his way up the runbritain endurance rankings since returning from an American scholarship. 2020 saw Connor return a 10km road PB of 28:10 in Valencia. He has a 61:34 half marathon PB..

Marc Scott  (handicap -7.0) cannot be discounted in his 21k debut. Having bettered the British road 5km record at the Podium 5k recently he has set PBs over 3000m (7:43.48), 1500m (3:35.93) and has a 10k track best of 27:56 along with an NCAA D1 title to his name.

World 50km Champion Iraitz Arrospide Garro with a marathon best of  2:10:59,  will also be a contender as will Northern Ireland favourites Kev Seaward (handicap -3.7), and Stephen Scullion (handicap -5.7) who both achieved Olympic qualification for 2020. Adam Craig (handicap -6.0), is in great form along with the versatile Tom Evans (handicap -6.1) from Sussex.

The women lock horns earlier in the day (0800hrs) with key performers Lily Partridge (handicap -1,2) and Samantha Harrison (handicap -1.7)   going head to head again after The Big Half' in March saw them battle all the way with Harrison running 71:01 to finish second 11 seconds behind Partridge on that occasion.  

Stephanie Davis (handicap -1.6), with a PB of 71:15 to finish 3rd at the Big Half is a big contender too along with European Cross gold medallist, Gemma Steel (handicap 0.6)  who has a best of 68:13. Holly Archer (handicap -1.0), the UK 1500m Champion is an outside bet, especially in windy coastal conditions.

Tommy Hughes (handicap -1.9) will be chasing a world best for a 60 year old. His 2020 best time equates to 58:59 on the age related equivalent times (WAVA), just a little faster than Sir Mo Farah's 59:07!

James McIlroy, an Olympic 800m legend in his own right, has been the man pulling together the talent on this picturesque and flat course. 

Preview of the pancake flat course along the beautiful Antrim coastline via BBC website that includes Mo Farah interview.