Entries open for RunBalmoral 2013
Entries have now opened for RunBalmoral 2013 which features an exciting new Corporate Team Challenge as part of the popular programme of races to be held within the magnificent grounds of the royal estate.
The festival of running, now in its 16th year, takes place over the weekend of April 27/28 2013 when more than 5,000 runners are expected to flock to Deeside.
“We try our best to make each year a better experience than the previous one and for 2013 we’ve made some changes to the programme which, hopefully, will make RunBalmoral 2013 another big success story,” said RunBalmoral Chairman James Knowles.
“On the Saturday we will once again have races for all age groups, starting with the MPH Primary schools 1.5k runs for boys and girls, and the Kongsberg Maritime Secondary schools 2.5k. There’s also the ConocoPhillips 5K and the Stena Drilling Tartan 10K for adults.
“Then on the Sunday, we can offer the RunBalmoral 15 mile trail race which takes runners out into some of the wilder and more testing routes on the estate.
"With the backing of our sponsors, we have introduced the Stena Drilling-ConocoPhillips Corporate Team Challenge which is designed to encourage teams of runners from companies and other organisations to compete against other in the 5K and 10K for a magnificent trophy.
“We are also working closely with scottishathletics to introduce a new team competition in the RunBalmoral 15 mile trail race. We hope to be able to announce more about this exciting new development in the very near future.”
The trail race captured the imagination of the running community last year when Banchory's Scottish internationalist Robbie Simpson and Dundee-based American Morgan Windram-Geddes earned themselves trips to the Great Ethiopian 10K - an amazing event which takes place in Addis Ababa later this month - by winning the men's and women's events respectively.
Four records were set at last year's Balmoral event including 5k marks set by Commonwealth Games 1500m runner Ali Hay (Central AC), who became the first man to crack the 15 minute barrier when clocking 14min 57secs to win the ConocoPhillips 5K, while his fellow Scottish internationalist Rhona Auckland (Banchory Stonehaven AC) won the women's prize in 17:16, a time bettered by just two men in the field.
“I believe that we offer a unique experience,” said RunBalmoral Marketing Manager Garry Marsden. “Everyone taking part in the RunBalmoral races gets free access to the estate grounds over the course of the weekend. And we are working towards developing a new event village this year which will offer top quality attractions and refreshments for families. All in all, it should be a great occasion.”
Full entry details can be found at www.runbalmoral.com