FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tel:00357 22370396
Fax:00357 22370404
UK RUNNER ALLAN FOTHERINGHAM SETS THE PACE, WINS THE RACE
The strong wind, before and during the races failed to depress the
enthusiasm of the 600 runners to run in the Cyprus SpiderNet Pafos
Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km Road Race which was organised on Sunday
2nd March 2003. The new Marathon course started from Petra tou Romiou
(Birthplace of Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty) and finished at the
Pafos Mediaeval Fort square. The other two races (Half Marathon & 10 km
Road Race) started and finished at the Pafos Mediaeval Fort square. The
starting gun fired by the Mayor of Pafos Mr. Phidias Sarikas saw the
Marathon depart at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Half Marathon at 9:15 a.m. and
the 10km at 9:30 a.m.
The number of runners that participated indicated the big impact of the
event, as most of the runners came from abroad, especially to participate
in the event. There were runners from 20 different countries such as UK,
Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Israel, Sweden, Austria, Argentina,
Finland, Holland, Norway, Switzerland etc. The route took the runners from
the Pafos Mediaeval Fort Square, along the sea front road through Pafos. At
specific points the different running events turned back retracing the
route.
The UK runner Allan Fotheringham won the SpiderNet Pafos Marathon 2003
finishing in a time of 2:54:55. Mathew Stephenson from UK was second in
2:56:56. Seidel Susanne of Germany clocking 3:25:42 won the women’s race
with Tuija Lehtonen (blind runner) and Sari Koivu from Finland in second
place with a time of 3:32:11.
The Briton Christopher Brown with a time of 1:09:03 won the SpiderNet Pafos
Half Marathon. Joerg Bunert from Germany was second in 1:10:36. The German
lady Birgit Schwers with the time of 1:20:14 won the ladies’ race with
runner up Dr. Sabine Hofer from Austria in 1:23:26. The male winner of the
SpiderNet Pafos 10km Road Race was the Briton athlete Ian White with a time
of 35:40 and female winner was the UK lady Deborah Webb with the time
41:26.
The "Carsberg Tsada Village Run" which was organised on Tuesday 4th March
was a huge success. More than 150 overseas participants enjoyed the 7,5-km
run which followed a course that wound in and around the village. The male
winner was the UK runner Andy Watson with a time 27:35 and the ladies race
was won by German lady Birgit Schwers with the time 31:34. Prior to the
main race the programme included a children’s fun run. All finishers in the
7,5-km run were awarded with a bottle of local wine whilst event and age
group categories were awarded medals. After the completion of the running
event the Tsada school children performed folklore dancing and all
participants were given the opportunity to sample local wines and local
dishes prepared by village families.
Each participant who finished the SpiderNet Pafos Marathon 2003 was given a
quality, commemorative adidas T-shirt and an engraved medal. Awards were
given to the first three runners in each of the 48 categories. After the
race the Organisers offered to all participants ample quantities of
seasonal fruit and free Carlsberg beer, ENA juices and AGROS mineral water
and Gatorade electrolytes. The Pafos Dancing Group of Genethlios Stavrinou
performed for all runners and spectator alike after the completion of the
running events. It was a real running festival! Race results can be seen in
the Web page: http://www.pafosmarathon.com/results.htm
All in all the city of Pafos produced a spectacular event that heralded not
just a few but hundreds of winners. As the many finishers exited Pafos
Mediaeval Fort square an overwhelming sense of achievement radiated from
the Fort. The Organisers of the SpiderNet Pafos Marathon 2003 express their
sincere thanks to all the sponsors of the race. The major sponsor of the
event Spidernet Services Ltd. and the supportive sponsors Photos Photiades
Ltd. - Carlsberg, Leptos Group of Companies, adidas, Violaris Press, Cyprus
Airways, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Pafos Municipality and PHOTOKINISI.
NIKI sports Management would like to thank each and every one who was
involved, in any capacity, in this, the running of the SpiderNet Pafos
Marathon 2003.
Preparations have already begun for next year Cyprus SpiderNet Pafos
Marathon which will be held on Sunday 7th March 2004. Another running
opportunity is the Kolossi Half Marathon & 10 km which will be held on
Sunday 30th November 2003. Kolossi running event has the flatest course on
the island.
All the best with your running,
Stavros Kakourides
Race Director
SpiderNet Pafos Marathon - http://www.spidernetpafosmarathon.com
Kolossi Half Marathon & 10 km - http://www.spidernet.net/web/kolossimarathon
P. O. Box 12063 Tel:00357 22370396
2340 Lakatamia Fax:00357 22370404
Nicosia E-mail: run@pafosmarathon.com
CYPRUS E-mail: skakour@spidernet.com.cy
# # #
|
