Wineathon 10K chiefs to have race promoting pies

THE organisers of a Wineathlon 10K cancelled in Glasgow amid controversy have pledged to return next year with a race promoting pies.

The 6.2-mile event is now being held in Stirlingshire on September 24 after the organisers were advised by a number of local authorities, including Glasgow, that they would require a licence to go ahead. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it would oppose any application to stage the run in the city, saying it contradicted “public health messages”.

Four charities have now withdrawn their support for the Scottish event.

However, Forestry Commission Scotland has given permission for the fun run to take place in the Carron Valley Forest in Stirlingshire, where participants will be offered a 20ml sample of wine at two of the rest stops, as well as water.

However, bottles of wine will not be sold after the race as was originally planned.

A Stirling Council spokesman said the area the event is being held in is not under its jurisdiction. It is unclear if the organisers are breaching any licensing laws. The company has not applied for permission to host the event in any local authority area.

Wane Law, managing director of event organisers Team OA, believes the event was unfairly targeted in Scotland. He said the company had been running five other Wineathlon events in England for some years without problems.

He said the Wineathlon would not be held in Scotland next year but instead promised to hold a 6K Pieathalon, where entrants are offered a piece of pie at every 2K stop.

He said: “We feel as if we are being portrayed as some English company that has come up to destroy Glasgow.”