Press Release - Belfast City Marathon - 2/8/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                           Contact: Anne Donegan
                                                    Media Relations Officer
                                                    Belfast City Council
                                                    Tel:  028 9027 0646

               Belfast City Marathon Goes In New Direction

Belfast City Marathon is going in a new direction this year, taking in some 
of the delights of the North Down and Newtownabbey Borough Council areas as 
well as large parts of Belfast.

The new course is designed to be flatter and therefore faster and more 
attractive especially for international runners interested in achieving 
record running times. It also means that it should attract a wider Northern 
Ireland audience with opportunities to view the race around the Holywood 
area, Hazelbank Park and cycle path alongside Belfast Lough.

Chairman of the Belfast City Marathon Committee, Danny O Connor, said: "The 
Belfast City Marathon has grown numerically over the past few years with 
over 11,000 participants taking to the streets last year.

"It is now a major community sport event for the City and the Province and 
interest continues to grow.  Similarly there is a growing interest from the 
international runner.  However the present route is deemed to be tough, 
hilly and not conducive to either the fun and fitness runner or the 
international runner seeking a respectable time.

"We are therefore aiming to provide a world class course capable of 
attracting really high class runners interested in breaking records and at 
the same time better cater for the 'community' runner. That means a course 
where records can be made, not just local records but international 
records.

"We feel we have a really good course now and are delighted that it takes 
in the wider metropolitan area. It is a great partnership between the 
district councils and the marathon committee and I look forward to it 
continuing."

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Ekin, spoke of the city's pride in 
hosting this, the 24th Belfast City Marathon and thanked North Down and 
Newtownabbey Borough Council's for their decision to allow part of the 
course to pass through their area. 

"The Marathon is an occasion for competitive running, for fun runners, and 
for families. It is a fun day out on Bank Holiday Monday and attracts a lot 
of people to the city in terms of support. It is a great opportunity to 
raise money for charity. I hope this year's official charity the Meningitis 
Trust can look forward to a large cheque at the end of the day."

This year’s marathon will start outside the city hall and will finish at 
the Odyssey and organisers are hoping for winning times around the 2hrs 14.  
Entry forms and more information are available from the marathon website on 
www.belfastcitymarathon.com.

 


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