Assurances on race’s future

Firm behind 10k event vows it will go ahead despite office sale

A north-east race will still go ahead next year – despite the company which runs it putting its Aberdeen office up for sale.

Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes put its premises in Bridge of Don on the market earlier this week and announced 25 redundancies.

It claimed afterwards it was “simplifying” its structure and operational footprint globally.

Concerns were voiced about the future of the Baker Hughes 10k race – which has taken place in

“Planning under way for the 2017 Baker Hughes 10k Running Festival”

Aberdeen now for 30 years.

However, a spokeswoman for Sport Aberdeen confirmed it would go ahead as planned next year.

She said: “Sport Aberdeen continues to enjoy a close and successful partnership with Baker Hughes.

“Planning is already under way for the 2017 Baker Hughes 10k Running Festival and we would encourage people to take advantage of our early bird race entry.”

The event will take place on May 14, 2017 for the 31st time.

Earlier this year a total of 4,500 runners took part in the race which sets off from Aberdeen Boulevard and goes through King Street, Golf Road, Urquhart Road and finishes near the Beach Ballroom.

On that occasion the winner of the men’s title was Will Mackay and Nicola Guald won the women’s race.

The event has a total of ten official partner charities, which are Aberdeen Cyrenians, Alzheimer Scotland, Befriend a Child, Cash for Kids, Children 1st, CLAN Cancer Support, CLIC Sargent, Inspire, Macmillan Cancer Support and Friends of ANCHOR.

Alongside the 10k race there is a 2k school race, a wheelchair race and the Banks o Dee fun run.

Photograph: Kevin Emslie POPULAR: Thousands of runners took part in last year’s Baker Hughes 10k which started along Aberdeen’s Beach Boulevard.

Baker Hughes is selling its Aberdeen office