UK’s largest publisher joins forces with The Jockey Club and Hollicom Events for dates at racecourses
REACH, the UK’s largest publisher, has joined forces with The Jockey Club and Hollicom Events to launch a new series of mass participation running events at racecourses across the UK.
The first three events take place in the autumn of 2019 at Cheltenham, Aintree and Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. Each of the racecourses are renowned for being the homes of the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, The Randox Health Grand National and the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Commenting on the new initiative Simon Fox, CEO of Reach, said: “The launch of the Classic Run Series presents us with a new opportunity to further engage with our customers in a different but relevant way. Increasingly live events are becoming an important channel for us to reach our readers in the communities where they live, work, shop and socialise.
“The Classic Run Series will also provide our advertisers with fresh commercial partnership opportunities. It’s a very exciting development for us and I look forward to joining our army of readers at the Classic Run Series next year.”
Mark Hollinshead CEO of Hollicom Events said: “The Classic Run Series is ● a unique set of innovative new running experiences for all the family. The centrepiece event at each racecourse will be the Classic 10km Run which will attract fun runners, fitness fanatics, fundraisers and club runners alike with each festival of running also including a Classic 5km run, Junior Run and a Family Mile event.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Reach and all their marketleading regional newsbrands to create and deliver such an exciting series of events for their family of readers to take part in.
“The Jockey Club own and manage some of the top racecourses in England and it’s not every day you wake up and say I’m going to run past Becher’s Brook or jog down the Row- ley Mile. Next year that opportunity will become a reality.
“We’re expecting thousands of runners to take part. We’ve already signed up running legend Liz McColgan and her double Olympian daughter Eilish, to join us as classic run ambassadors.”
Paul Fisher, chief executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, said:
“We’re delighted to help stage the Classic Run Series at three of Britain’s most iconic racecourses. We’re better known for some of the world’s greatest racehorses running at our tracks, but this is a fantastic opportunity for thousands of runners from all over the UK to follow in their footsteps and experience what it’s like to run past the huge grandstands of Cheltenham, Aintree and Newmarket.
“It’s a great initiative which will introduce a whole new audience to our racecourses and give them the chance to understand and get a better feel for our sport.
“We’re also looking forward to welcoming our friends at the Gloucestershire Echo, the Liverpool Echo, Cambridge News and all the 100 Reach newsbrands across the country to this fantastic new partnership.”
Reach PLC and north west regional managing director Carl Wood added: “As a Scouser myself I know what running around the world-famous Aintree racecourse will mean to people - not just people from Liverpool but people everywhere. It’s the chance of a lifetime.
‘‘At the Echo and at Reach we’re all about connecting with people. That’s not only through our websites and newspapers, it’s through fantastic events such as this.
“I firmly believe this is the start of something truly amazing and I urge people to sign up and be part of it.”
Eilish McColgan, classic run ambassador, double Olympian and European 5,000 metres silver medallist said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Classic Run Series as a brand ambassador at these brilliant new events. Runners are always on the look out for a different kind of experience.
“The Classic Run Series will be just that. I’ll be taking part myself. There is good prize money too for elite and club runners signing up for the series.”