New honour for Hastings Half Marathon

This will be the first time the National Championships have been held in the South or South East and is a great credit to Hastings and Sussex. It is also a well-deserved accolade for a race, previously embracing the Sussex and South of England Championships, that was voted the best of its kind in the UK by readers of Runners World magazine earlier in the year.

Launching Hastings Half Marathon 2005 at The Old Town Lighthouse, Race Director Eric Hardwick said: "Years ago this lighthouse sent out a beam to the fishing boats to bring them safely back to the shore. Today we send out a beacon, in launching entry forms for the 2005 event on March 13th, to the whole world to come to Hastings for the 21st running of the popular event."

Also new for 2005 will be the introduction of the latest electronic timing system, in which a computer chip will be incorporated in the race number while a park and ride scheme will help cope with the popularity of the event.

There will be four new additional sponsors of the Half Marathon and a new sponsor for the Mini-Run for children aged 11-16. ABC Family Nursery Ltd, Kings Church, which also hosts the prize-giving evening at the newly-named Hastings Centre (formerly Boundaries), Simply Italian Restaurants and General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited are all new sponsors.

Entry forms can be obtained from most sports shops and centres, via the web site - www.hastings-half.co.uk - telephone/fax on (01424) 437001, or by writing to 219 Harley Shute Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 9JJ.

Continuing on the running theme, Hastings plays host to a new race on Sunday entitled Run For The Children.

Such events are staged at various locations around the country but this is the first occasion that the three kilometre long contest has taken place in Hastings.

Times and placings very much play second fiddle to participation and the opportunity to raise funds for race charity Children with Leukaemia.

Athletes of all ages are welcome to take part and entry costs 10 on the day for adults while children can get involved without charge.

The run, supported by Hastings Runners, Hastings Athletic Club and Hastings Borough Council, starts at 11am from the southern section of Alexandra Park.