FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Sponsor ups bid to attract top athletes to Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Marathon is upping its bid to attract the top UK Marathon
runners to the Scottish capital. On the 7th January the Edinburgh Marathon
announced that they had secured Albert Bartlett, the UK largest grower of
root vegetables, as the new title sponsor for the 25th May event. Albert
Bartlett is already involved in athletics and has provided a bursary for
Joanne Finch, the young Scottish 800m athlete with hopes of a 2012 Olympic
medal.
The North Berwick based marathon company took the first steps in the 2007
marathon and offered free places to UK athletes who had run a sub 2:40hr
males and sub 3:00hr females. This went some way to improving the
competition at the front of the field and from 3,587 finishers 82 athletes
(2.29%) ran under the three hour mark. In 2006 the number was just 64
athletes (1.56%) from 4,095 finishers. The free places are still available
in 2008, if athletes meet the qualifying times.
Now with the backing of a major sponsor the Edinburgh Marathon is looking
to take it one step further for the 2008 event. Firstly, the Edinburgh
Marathon has all but tripled the prize money for the 2008 event. Cash
prizes are now available for the first 10 male and female athletes over the
line, up from five last year. The winning prize for the first male and
female has also doubled from £500 to £1,000.
Secondly, the marathon team have also introduced UK athlete only time
bonuses for 2008. There are time bonuses available of between £100 to
£5,000 for male athletes that run below 2:27 or females that run below
2:43.
Damien O'Looney, Marketing Manager for the marathon said:
"I want to attract at least 5 of the top 20 male and female British
marathon athletes to Edinburgh to encourage more competition between
British athletes. It can only help the sport if there are more home grown
UK athletes competing against each other."
Damien O'Looney went on to say:
"To encourage these top UK athletes to come to Edinburgh we can provide up
to £400 per athlete and also provide them free hotel accommodation in
Edinburgh. To be eligible the athlete must have run a sub 2:30 (male) and
sub 2:48 (female)."
The Edinburgh Marathon team also introduced a new route for the 2007
marathon. On its first running in 2007, the average finishing time improved
by 11 minutes and 29 seconds from the 2006 route. The Edinburgh Marathon
team also conducted a survey of athletes that ran both the Flora London
Marathon and Edinburgh Marathon in 2007. Conditions at both marathons were
difficult, London was hot and Edinburgh was windy. Of the 23 that
responded, 20 ran Edinburgh faster than London. Of the 23 athletes that ran
both in marathons in 2007, their average for London was 4:04:19 and for
Edinburgh was 03:47:21, an amazing 16 minutes 58 seconds faster. The course
has an overall elevation drop of 230ft so it is a perfect course for those
seeking a PB.
Caroline Vevers, Event Director of the marathon, said:
"The 2007 marathon was very well received and entries in the 2008 marathon
are expected to DOUBLE from 5,770 entrants last year to over 11,000
entrants for this year. We already have over 9,000 marathon entrants and
runners have until 2nd May 2008 to enter. Along with our new fast route we
have put together a package of incentives to attract the top male and
female UK athletes to Edinburgh. This should make the 2008 Edinburgh
Marathon the best Edinburgh has seen".
For more information on the marathon log on to www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk
###
|
