Countdown begins for Barns Green Half Marathon

The numbers of entries are increasing but there is still plenty of time to enter. One of the most popular features of the races is the fancy dress runners sponsored by ChilliPepperTV. Each year a variety of runners turn up dressed as Batman, dames, skeletons, witches, wizards and babies. One year it was a Harry Hill lookalike that won the first prize! There are five fancy dress prizes – 1st £60, 2nd £50, 3rd £40, 4th £30, and 5th £20. Judging for the Fancy Dress takes place on the main stage at 9am an hour before the start of the races. The chairman of the Barns Green Half Marathon Committee, Vernon Jennings said: “The fantastic costumes that people create to run in the Barns Green Half Marathon and 10km races add greatly to the colour and excitement of the day. “We want to see as many people as possible in fancy dress, it is great fun and there are some attractive cash prizes on offer”. This year will be the event’s 36th running and the 3rd year of the new 10km race which last year attracted almost 600 runners. The event is organized and run entirely by volunteers and all the money raised goes towards supporting local clubs, sports clubs and societies as well as different charities. Since it began in 1982, this unique village event has raised a huge amount of money for charity. Last year, more than 2,000 runners registered to take part in the two races which run through some of the most scenic countryside in West Sussex including the grounds of Christ’s Hospital School. In the school grounds, the magnificent Christ’s Hospital School marching band will be playing as all the runners go past providing a great spectacle and boost for all those taking part. Also there will be a warm up for all the runners before the race which will be done by two fitness instructors from Bluecoat Sports. This will take place just before the races start so that everyone is nicely warmed up. For more information and to apply to enter the race go to their website: www.barnsgreen-half.org.uk