Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon entries open

The 5th race in the runbritain Grand Prix is now open for entries.

Cardiff will this year host the British Half Marathon Championships for the first time in its history as well as being the fifth of six events in the 2013 runbritain Grand Prix series, which boasts prize money totaling £18,000 for the top 10 male and female British runners.

Leading Great Britain international Dave Webb (pb 64:45) has already enjoyed success in 2013 after missing the London Olympics through injury, winning the Bristol 10k and finishing as first Briton home in March’s Reading Half Marathon he is currently 5th in the Grand Prix but all of those in front of him have done three races as opposed to his two. The 31 year old will be among the main contenders in Cardiff.

Local athletes Alex Hains (Cardiff AAC) and Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) could spring an upset as they vie for the Welsh Half Marathon Championships title.

Griffiths is the defending champion having taken the crown at last year’s Cardiff Half Marathon while Hains boasts a lifetime best of 64:30 and topped the Welsh rankings for both 10k and half marathon in 2012.

Also likely to be in the mix are John Beattie (Newham and Essex Beagles) and training partner Luke Cragg (Leeds City), with both having run under 30 minutes for 10k.

In the women’s field, top GB endurance athlete Katrina Wootton (Coventry Godiva Harriers) will look to continue a fine year which has seen her win the British 10k title and improve her 5k lifetime best to 15:30. She is currently leading the table in the Grand Prix and so will be aiming to stay on top.

Rebecca Robinson (Kendal), who’s represented GB at the European Championships, World Half Marathon Championships and European and World Mountain Running Championships, will certainly be in contention for the win if she gets near her lifetime best of 73:11, set when she won the Wilmslow Half Marathon.

British marathon record holder and Cardiff Half Marathon ambassador Steve Jones commented: “With some quality athletes at the front end of the race the 2013 event is going to be even better than ever.

“The Cardiff Half-Marathon is evolving and is no longer merely a fun-run – it is developing into a top-class race.

“There is no doubt that in a few years’ time this race will be among the elite road running events in the UK and beyond. The course, the setting and the organisation are driving it to the top of many runners’ agendas.”