Gosport Half Marathon ready to welcome 2,000 runners

It's always a very popular event on the running calendar.

All of the places were sold out more than a month in advance.

Last year's edition saw James Baker and Bryher Bowness win in superb conditions.

Gosport Road Runners host the race.

It is a big community effort to put the event on and ensure everything goes smoothly.

The prospects are looking good for favourable weather on the day.

If it is a nice, calm day the fast, flat course will provide lots of opportunity for personal bests and fast times.

Jenny Shilling is on the organising committee and she was delighted to see all the places snapped up so quickly.

She said: '˜Everything has gone well in the build up to the race.

'˜We sold all the 2,000 places by the middle of October.

'˜Usually the Great South Run spurs people on to enter but this year they would have been a bit late.

'˜It is a very popular race with a fast, flat course.

'˜If the weather is good it is an opportunity to go for a personal best.

'˜It is a great course for spectators with the two-lap course and it also means everyone doing the event has four opportunities to get drinks from the two water stations.'

This is the 33rd edition of the event and it is part of the Hampshire Road Race League.

It also attracts entrants from far and wide and raises substantial money to help local charities.

Committee member Brian Fisher said: '˜We have had entries from the Ukraine, New Zealand and Sweden.

'˜Last weekend in the wind and the rain we had the helpers half marathon for everyone who can't do the race because they are volunteering.

'˜Hopefully on Sunday conditions will be good for everyone.'

It is takes a big club effort from Gosport Road Runners to ensure everything is in place for Sunday.

The 1st Alverstoke Guides, the 16th Gosport Scout Group, the 1098 Gosport Squadron Air Cadets and the 6th Gosport Air Scouts will be helping out, as well as young people from Loud & Proud Gosport Voluntary Action.

Solent Sports Injury Clinic sponsor the race, there will be a group from the Prince's Trust charity helping out and Tesco donated 2,000 bananas for the event.

Radio Haslar and The Big Noise Samba Band will be out on course cranking up the atmosphere.

Mayor of Gosport Cllr Diane Furlong will be starting the race at 10am.

The venue is Bay House School, 18 Gomer Lane, PO12 2QP.

Alton Sports who help out to support the race are open on Saturday for number collection from 9am to 12pm.

Race numbers can also be picked up on the day from 8am at the race headquarters.

The children's fun run starts at 10.20am on Sunday.