Islay Marathon on Sunday
The Islay Marathon will be taking place this Sunday (September 9). This will be the fourth Islay Marathon and organisers are confident that this year’s event will be as good as ever. It’s a fabulous route with some great views running from Portnahaven, along the length of the Rhinns to Bridgend and then following the High Road all the way to Port Ellen. As marathons go, it doesn’t get much better than that.
The event is also in memory of Menzies MacAffer, a former pupil of Islay High School who went on to serve with distinction in the Royal Marines and was a keen marathon runner but whose life was tragically cut short. The Menzies MacAffer trophies, which have been kindly donated by the family, will be presented to the first male and female runners.
The race will start at the village hall in Portnahaven at 7.30 am and finish at the Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen. There will be a free bus leaving Port Ellen at about 6am to pick up any runners along the way, for those who want it, to take them to the start at Portnahaven.
It is £30 to enter. Relay teams of two-four can take part if the full marathon is too much with a £40 entry fee for a team. If interested, please contact Stephen Harrison at the high school, tel: 810239 or 07399 614675 or email: stephen. harrison@argyll-bute.gov.uk for an entry form – the sooner the better. All runners will need to register on Saturday September 17 in the high school between 3.30pm and 5.30pm. At 5.30pm there will be a pasta dinner available (£10 a head), again in the high school, for anyone wanting some carbohydrate loading or even just a nice meal!
The first runners will be appearing at the Ramsay Hall at about 10.30 and all runners and spectators are welcome to refreshments – soup, sandwiches, teas, coffee and home-baking – which will be available in the hall.
Monies raised from the event will be used toward Islay High School Expeditions abroad. The school had a very successful trip to Zambia and Botswana last year and now have 19 students heading off to Northern India and the Himalayas next year.
If not taking part, members of the public are asked to please give the runners a welcoming cheer along the route. Volunteers are also needed so if anyone would like to man a water station or be a marshal on the route please let Stephen Harrison know.