Opportunity for British double on Bristol's proven superfast course

The 2014 Bristol 10k is the second race in the 2014 runbritain Grand Prix and with over 11,000 runners signing up to take part each year the event is now one of the fastest growing and popular of its kind in the UK. Although the entry date has now closed, the organisers are still accepting entries from all men and women who made it onto the Grand Prix score board at the first race in the series.

The entry list is shaping up to promise an exciting domestic race with the elite start list currently consisting of an entirely British field. 

Amongst the elite women we expect to see both Emily Wicks (handicap 0.0) and Samantha Amend (handicap 1.6). Both ran the Greater Manchester Marathon (1st and 3rd respectively) at the beginning of the month and, after a short break over Easter, will be looking to do battle again on 11th May in Bristol. Joining them on the start line will be Bristol 10k regular, Emma D'Alton (handicap 1.9) as well as Emma Stepto (handicap -1.0), who completed the Virgin Money London Marathon last weekend in 2:36:05 and lowered her handicap score by 0.2. Their current Grand Prix standings are:

Emma Stepto - 6th

Emily Wicks - 8th

Emma E'Alton - 14th

Samantha Amend - 16th

Amongst the elite men we expect to see James Connor (handicap -4.0), Jack Martin (handicap -4.4) and Ben Fish (handicap -4.4) who are currently placed 9th, 11th and 13th in the current standings. Joining them will be Antony Ford (handicap -4.3) who is expected to put in a performance that will give him a slot near to the top of the table.

If you haven't yet put in your entry and you are on the Grand Prix score board or qualify for an elite place by meeting guide times of: Men sub 31.30 mins, Women sub 35.30. Please send a brief CV with your recent achievements and personal best times, setting out your case for being given a reserved place to the race administration service who will pass your request on to Bud Baldaro for consideration. Email your request to [email protected].

The prize structure in the male and female open categories  includes:

1st - £500

2nd - £400

3rd - £300

There are  the same amounts available for 1st, 2nd and 3rd British runners (male and female).British runners may claim prizes from both the open categories and British categories. There are also time bonuses available and achieveable on this superfast course.

See the full prize list and rules here.

In the Grand Prix points will be awarded for the first 250 finishing positions. 250 points will be awarded for the first British finisher, down to 1 point for the 250th British finisher. There are extra points available for men who run faster than 30 minutes and women who run faster than 33 minutes. Up to the best four scores from the six available races count at the end of the series. If the athlete scores points in less than four Grand Prix events, their best two, three or single score will count towards the final standings. Prize money totals £18,000 and is shared by the top 10 male and female British runners at the end of the series

One of this year's highlights will be Martin Rees (handicap -0.9) returning to attempt another world record. Having run an incredible 32:54 last year, he will return to shave more time from his own record and write himself into the record books again as the fastest in the world over 10k in the M60 category. The odds look promising as he clocked 73:19 at the Mizuno Reading Half Marathon, which was the first race in the Grand Prix and knocked almost a minute off the previous best of 74:15 for the half marathon for a 61 year old.

The course at Bristol has produced many a PB as the sea-level out and back course starts and finishes in Bristol’s historic Harboursideourside. Runners will follow the course along the Portway, through the stunning Avon Gorge, and pass twice under Brunel’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge.