None Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon
Organisers of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting event are gearing up for yet another record-breaking year. With just a week left until entries close, more than 13,000 people have signed up for the 2009 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon, which takes place on Monday 4 May.
And with a last minute flood of entries expected before next Friday’s deadline, organisers are confident that they will easily smash the 15,000 barrier for the May Day extravaganza.
“Already we have 2,550 runners signed up for the main Marathon,” announced Danny O’Connor, Chairman of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon Organizing Committee,
“That’s around 30 per cent more marathon runners than we had last year, which was our most successful in recent years,” enthused Danny.
Those seeking to complete the full 26.2 miles are joined, so far, by 1,550 relay teams, each made up of five people, and some 2,000 walkers and almost 1,100 fun runners.
“We enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2008, with almost 15,000 people taking part in the four events: this was more than double the entry level of just six years ago – and it looks like we are going to have even more people taking part this year,” said Danny.
Closing date for entries is next Friday (17 April).
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Aer Lingus, Belfast City Council, Charles Hurst Renault, Eventsec, New Balance, Sport Northern Ireland, Translink, Reach EPS, Tayto and Up and Running. Media partners are the Daily Mirror and U105. Official accommodation partner is Premier Inn.
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is organised by Belfast City Marathon Ltd., in partnership with Athletics Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, the Department for Regional Development, Newtownabbey Borough Council, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Sustrans and Translink.
For full details of the 2009 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon, including online entry, visit www.belfastcitymarathon.com