ATHLETICS – ONE of the kingdom’s biggest and most popular charity running races is set to return later this year following a four-year hiatus.
The Bahrain Marathon Relay, first held in 1981 and last staged in 2019, is set for a grand comeback this November 22.
It is being organised by the Bahrain Road Runners (BRR) in cooperation with The British Club Bahrain and the Bahrain Athletics Association.
The race is set to cover a full marathon distance of 42 kilometres. Teams must comprise a minimum of two participants and a maximum of 14, and they will be running legs of three kilometres apiece.
The event is open to squads representing all kinds of clubs, companies, educational institutions, and the like, both from Bahrain and abroad.
“This is a very attractive and historic race in Bahrain,” BRR vice-chairman and the race’s steering committee head Khalifa Najem told the GDN last night.
Najem was speaking during a meeting attended by BRR committee members and The British Club Bahrain representative Richard Monkhouse, who has been involved in the event since the 1990s.
“BRR will be handling the race from A to Z, and we are keen to join forces with The British Club Bahrain in organising it this year,” Najem added.
“It is a big challenge for us to handle, although we have more than 50 years’ experience putting together such races. We have taken this one as a challenge to measure our ability to stage such a big occasion.
“The BRR is very much committed to delivering a successful and memorable event, and we invite teams from inside Bahrain and outside the country to join.
“Through the Bahrain Marathon Relay, we are both promoting the sport and contributing to charity – this is our hope at BRR.”
Aside from the race’s overall top three, there will be winners declared in the 11 different categories for the participating teams. These include sports clubs; social clubs; schools and universities; hotels and catering; hospitals and medical services; banks, insurance, and telecom; logistics and transportation; trading; industrial; airlines; and contracting and real estate.
The race’s start and finish points, along with the full course route, will be announced soon.
“We are open for business and we are looking forward to good participation,” Monkhouse said.
“For quite a few years, international quality teams were entered in the race, and for a long time, they dominated the event. The bottom line is anyone can participate – it is a run for anyone, and that’s the great thing about it.”
Organisers are hoping to attract up to 200 teams for this year’s marathon relay.
Registration is now open for those interested in taking part. Runners must be aged 14 and above to participate. Any competitor under 18 years old will need consent from their parent or guardian.
An entry fee of BD200 is required. It will cover race T-shirts and the participants’ medals. Organisers have launched an Early Bird promotion of a reduced fee of BD160 for teams that pay before September 30.
Those who would like to register can do so online via the BRR website brr.bh or through the link available on the BRR’s Instagram page @bahrainroadrunners. They can also register via the Tathaker application.
The Bahrain Marathon Relay was founded by The British Club Bahrain in 1981 and has become an important highlight on the annual sporting calendar in the kingdom.
Following the 2019 event, the succeeding year’s Bahrain Marathon Relay was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The race is promoted as a fun run aimed at participants of all standards, from elite athletes to keen joggers and even once-a-year runners.
Being a leading charity event in the kingdom, net proceeds from sponsorships and entry fees have been distributed to charitable causes within Bahrain. Previous beneficiaries included the Mother and Child Welfare Centre, Mobility International, Al Manar Home for the Elderly, RIA Centre, and the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, to name a few.
Also at yesterday’s meeting were BRR race director Majid Khalid, BRR social media head Fai Alasfoor, BRR IT and registration head Younis Abdulla, BRR marshals and volunteers head Ali Oun, and BRR logistics head Ebrahim Abbas.
For any inquiries on this year’s Bahrain Marathon Relay, contact Najem on +973-36992288.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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