French Runner Invasion Planned For Bupa Great South Run
26 Mar 2010
The 2010 Bupa Great South Run will feature an exciting new twist with runners from France and England competing for the Brittany Ferries Trophy.
The Bupa Great South Run, which will be staged for the 21st time later this year, will have a special theme to it as England take on France over the ten mile (16.09 km) distance in Portsmouth.
The Brittany Ferries Trophy will be awarded to the nation whose runners have the fastest average finishing time of all those completing the course. There will also be an elite race featuring the two nations.
A team of ten runners from the City Council of Caen in Normandy, which is twinned with Portsmouth, have already signed up to take part, and they lined up on the steps of the City Hall in Caen to announce their involvement.
David Longden, managing director of Brittany Ferries, who is supporting the Bupa Great South Run this year, said “We are delighted to be involved. Many of our staff have taken part in the Great South Run over the years and we are aware of its prestige. With Brittany Ferries operating from Caen, St. Malo and Cherbourg to Portsmouth, we hope there will be a healthy number of French competitors on the start line”
The cities of Portsmouth and Caen have been twinned for 23 years and enjoy a special cultural relationship and the England v France challenge has been welcomed on both sides of the Channel.
The Great South Run was first staged in 1990 in Southampton, before moving to its present home of Portsmouth a year later. From being a road race with 2,000 runners, the event has rapidly developed into Europe’s biggest 10 mile running event with a cap of 23,000 places available this year. Televised live in the UK, in 2009 the Bupa Great South Run became the first 10 mile event in the world to be awarded gold label status by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
The 2010 Bupa Great South Run will take place on Sunday 24th October. Less than 3,000 general entries remain.
Find out more information about the Bupa Great South Run here.
Running with a French twist
If you’re looking to combine new running challenges with an invigorating change of scenery then you should think about France.
Brittany Ferries takes you direct from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth to some of the best holiday regions where you’ll be spoilt by pretty surroundings and open roads as well as a running scene which is vibrant and welcoming – as well as fun.
With around 5,000 races a year there’s always something going on and you don’t have to go far to enjoy some real classics such as the spectacular Mont-Saint-Michel Marathon, as well as the Marathon de La Liberté which follows a unique and poignant route taking in the scenery and history of the D-Day Landing Beaches.
To find out more about getting to France visit:
Brittany Ferries.
For a range of great accommodation ideas visit:
Brittany Ferries Holidays.