Published Date:
04 March 2004
THE annual Freckleton Half-marathon will be staged for the 40th time this summer and preparations are well under way to ensure this anniversary is extra-special.
All the previous winners have been invited to the June 20 race, including the legendary Ron Hill, who won the first Freckleton event on June 19, 1965.
Hill's selection for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 had been the inspiration for that inaugural race, which he duly won despite competing in a three-mile race hours earlier.
Hill returned in 1969 to set the record of 64mins, 45secs, which stands to this day.
The organisers believe theirs to be the country's oldest half-marathon and race director Brian Porter said: "Finding all the previous winners has been a bit like finding a needle in a haystack but it has been worth it.
"Some of these people will be travelling the length of the country to be with us. This will also be a rare opportunity to run in such elite company as Ron Hill."
The event has grown steadily since the first race attracted 53 entrants, and another bumper entry is expected although the event again clashes with the Blackpool Marathon and Half-marathon.
Entry forms are available at www.weshamroadrunners.com and www.runnersworld.co.uk
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Last Updated:
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Blackpool