CH1ChesterBID Company has agreed a landmark deal with the Chester Half Marathon to keep the race’s finishing line in the city centre.
For the last three years the race has featured a grandstand finish outside of Chester Town Hall and the Cathedral but the future of the current route was in doubt due to the added expense of a city centre finish.
The deal with CH1ChesterBID will keep the existing route in place, ensuring that city centre retailers have the chance to benefit from the extra footfall the event delivers.
Rita Waters, Chief Executive of the CH1ChesterBID Company, said: “The Chester Half Marathon is an iconic event for the city, attracting thousands of participants and spectators to Chester every year.
“In 2014 more than 70,000 people were in the city centre on the day of the race – the busiest Sunday of the year by far – so we simply had to make sure it stayed in the heart of the city in 2015 – our first year as a Business Improvement District.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase everything that Chester has to offer before, during and after race day, and we’re confident that many of the BID businesses will benefit from this fantastic new partnership.”
This year’s Chester Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 17 May and is set to sell-out again, with organisers expecting more than 7,000 runners and tens of thousands more spectators.
“We’re delighted that CH1ChesterBID Company have agreed to support the Chester Half Marathon for 2015”, said Chris Hulse from race organisers Active Leisure Events.
“When we took over the event in 2012 one of the first things we felt important to do was switch the route to a city centre finish because it’s a huge attraction for many runners and it creates a fantastic atmosphere.
“The added expense of finishing in the city centre combined with reduced funding this year meant we had to consider other options, but this agreement means we can keep our grandstand finish in the heart of the city and that’s tremendous news for everyone.”
