Christchurch’s Marathon Expected Record Field

With record entries and the country’s best runners, Christchurch’s SBS Marathon is shaping up bigger and better than ever.

A month out from the annual Queens Birthday weekend event and Christchurch’s SBS Marathon Event is looking at record entries. In 2006 the annual Queens birthday weekend event enjoyed a record field of more than 3600 participants, but compared to this time last year entries for 2007 are approximately 20 percent higher.

This is a continuation of the rise of the event that was inspired by the record shattering 1974 Commonwealth Games Marathon. “We’re very excited about the level of interest so far,” says race director Chris Cox.

“The Christchurch Marathon has always been the South Island’s biggest marathon event and New Zealand’s fastest road race, but this indicates that we’re on the right track to achieve our goal of being New Zealand’s number one marathon event in every way.”

Race day for 2007 is Sunday June 3, and Chris Cox is hoping the event will reach 4000 entrants for the first time. He attributes the continual growth of what has become a truly international event to the involvement of principle sponsor Southland Building Society: “SBS have offered unprecedented resources that have enabled us to take the event to the next level,” says Cox.

This year’s SBS Christchurch Marathon also promises to continue taking road running to a new level in New Zealand. In the last decade Cox and his team have worked hard to put on the best race in New Zealand. They have been rewarded with three New Zealand records and every year New Zealand’s top 10 half and full marathon times are dominated by performances from the Christchurch event. In 2006 former Olympic cyclist turned marathon runner, Gavin Stevens, ran the fastest marathon in the world for a 50 year old at the SBS Marathon.

With a $40,000 prize pool the SBS Christchurch Marathon is once again New Zealand’s richest road race. As the only running event in New Zealand offering an elite athlete assistance program it has once again attracted the best field of the year. New Zealand representatives Craig Kirkwood, Scott Winton, Dale Warrander, Ben and Jess Ruthe, and Tracey Clissold are all starters. Two-time SBS Marathon winner Matt Dravitzki will also be on the line, as will local Christchurch standouts Mark Bailey and Matt Ingram.

“We make a big effort to get the best runners at the SBS Marathon Event,” says Cox. “Having them here adds prestige and international attention to the amazing community occasion this event has become.”

Indeed, first and foremost the SBS Marathon Event is a community event that stops the city for a day as residents assemble outside their front gates to cheer the throngs making their way along the picturesque Avon River and Hagley Park course. Organisationally the event utilises approximately 300 volunteer from various clubs and community groups who use it as a fundraiser.

“However, we’re also keen to get a wider cross-section of the community participating in the event,” says Cox.

“Two years ago we introduced the Kid’s 2k Mara’Fun, which has been a huge success with several hundred primary school children. This year we’ve introduced a half marathon especially for walkers and entries thus far are really encouraging.”

Cox says one of the SBS Marathon Event goals is to provide something for everyone. Along with the classic 42.2k marathon this festival of fitness includes a half marathon run and walk, a 10k run and walk and the 2k Kid’s Mara’Fun. As well as the $40,000 prize pool, one in 10 people are guaranteed to win a spot prize and every finisher receives a specifically struck commemorative medal.

Entries for the 2007 SBS Marathon close on Friday 11 May, although people will still be able to enter via a late fee right up until the day before the June 3 event.

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