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The third edition of the Energia 24-Hour
race will be staged at the 8-lane Sportsplex in Bangor, County Down on July, 6/7 2012.
The move to the seaside, 12 miles from
Belfast, has been necessitated by the closure of the Mary Peters’ track because
of the redesigning of the complex to bring it up to international standards.
Race Director Ed Smith says: “ We’re delighted to be bringing our
own particular brand of madness and suffering to Bangor. The Sportsplex will
support our needs perfectly. It’s a town that’s hosted word-class events in the
past – and it’s go-ahead spirit can be seen in the 50 metre pool it’s currently
building – the first in Northern Ireland.”
The event is the only round-the-clock race
in Ireland and for the second year in a row will carry the kudos of Irish
Championship.
“ We have a tradition of great ultra
runners in Ireland and I’m proud to give them this platform- along with all our
overseas visitors - on which to show what they can achieve on home soil,” says
Smith.
Last year Kildare’s John O’Regan posted
figures of 132 miles covered in winning the men’s race and Killaloe’s Deidre Finn won the women’s
championship running 112 miles.
In total some 18 ran,walked,staggered and
crawled past the magical 100 miles including Everest conqueror Lynne Hanna and Gerard McCann who began running 3
years ago to help him quit smoking and lose some weight.
Smith says: “ There is £1000 in prize money
and special awards for anyone chalking up that century – but, in my book, they
are all winners for just taking this on and we’re holding the entry fee at £50
in these straightened times.”
Energia, Ireland’s leading independent
energy business, is back for the third year as title sponsor.
Energia’s Marketing Manager Michael
Ringland says : “ This event
highlights exactly our brand values: Smart, committed, competitive. A great
idea with committed runners, all done in an extremely competitive nature.
“This has been a successful partnership for
us in the last two years- an event that is breaking new ground and tests
runners to the physical and mental limit. We had 8 countries and 18 Irish
counties represented last year – and it made for a compelling spectacle of
achievement against the odds, he says.”
North Down Mayor, Councillor James
McKerrow, says: “ We are delighted to be hosting the 24 Hour race at the Bangor
Sportsplex and look forward to welcoming all the very dedicated(if slightly mad) runners to our Borough
in July.”
There are three races on offer: The full
24-Hours, a 12-Hour option ,won by Sean McCormack from Wales in 2011 with just
under 69 miles covered; and there is also a team relay.Team Orangegrove set the
bar high last year at 170 miles.
The two races in 2010 and 2011 have carried
‘bronze’ labels from the world governing body and this year it is hoped to
secure a ‘silver’ label – as it looks to bid for a European Track Championship
in 2013.
A big thank you to Transport Services at
the South Eastern Education and Library Board who supplied the bus to bring the
kids from Crawfordsburn PrImary School to help ‘trace out’ the ‘24’ for the event launch at the
Sportsplex.
PHOTO( Dame Mary Peters with North Down Mayor
James McKerrow, Energia’s Chief Operating Officer Tom Gillen(pink shirt) , Race
Director Ed Smith and the children of Crawfordsburn Primary School.
For more information contact Ed Smith at ed_n_smith@hotmail.com or
00447740818389.
