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BTR Tour Of Merseyside 2016
Sells Out In 8 Hours
Photos by Paul Francis Cooper
THE BTR Tour Of Merseyside (TOM) 2015
was brought to an exciting close after a week of races totally 52 miles; with
places for the 2016 event selling out the very next day in only 8 hours.
The 7 day event, held over 5 July to 11 July 2015, featured 6 races of varying terrain in
different locations across Merseyside, covering a total of 52 miles.
The sold out event featuring 300 participants saw a total of 269 runners
complete the challenge to become fully fledged Tourists, with the field split
between 177 males and 92 females.
For the 3rd successive year, Manchester based Anthony Taylor took 1st place
in the overall Tour. He completed his hat trick Tour in 4:57:32; smashing the
5 hour barrier for the 1st time in the event's 3 year history and setting
a TOM course record.
Taylor was chased all week by Tour newcomer Terence Forrest, from Cairngorm
Runners, who proved popular with his fellow Tourists with his unique style of
running; starting at the back of the race field and then racing through to the
front of the pack. Forrest took 2nd place with 5:04:52.
The pair have gone head to head in a number of other races this year, including
the BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K. Taylor took 1st place in the Tour's first race,
Southport ˝ Marathon, and remained ahead for the rest of the week; providing
plenty of friendly rivalry and banter between the pair all week.
3rd male was Slava Osipovs, who also returned for his 3rd TOM, recording a time
of 5:12:25. Osipovs took 5th place in 2013 and 2nd place in 2014.
For the females, the leaderboard changed on an
almost daily basis. Last year's winning lady Liverpool Harriers' Jenny Clague
was in the overall lead all week until she fell ill and sadly pulled out of the
5th race and overall Tour.
The top podium place for the ladies was taken by Tour newcomer Natasha Sheel
from Serpentine RC in 6:05:43.
2nd place was returning Tourist Gillian Verdin from Liverpool Running Club in
6:17:31, setting her own TOM personal best. She was followed by Tour newcomer
Sarah Carroll from Oldham Royton Harriers AC in 6:21:49.
Prizes were awarded during a special celebration event at Camp And Furnace in
Liverpool, following the final race.
The 1st BTR Tour Of Merseyside took place in July 2013 with 73 Tourists
completing the inaugural event. Last year, the field more than doubled with 161
finishers. The 2015 TOM start list included 29 of the original Team of
2013, who are the 1st runners to complete a Tour hat trick, including only 7
females. A total of 24 will return for their 4th successive year in 2016.
The Tour 2016 has already sold out. Entries opened the day after the 2015 Tour,
held on Sunday, 12 July 2015, and within 8 hours all 350 places had been taken.
This year's event took 2 weeks to sell out.
The challenge started with Southport ˝ Marathon, where runners were guests of Vital Events. This was followed by 6
miles of beach, woods and trail in Thurstaston; 10 miles on the Sustrans
Loopline in Walton; 5 miles in Hale Village; 6 miles cross country at Stadt
Moers in Knowsley; with a 12 mile Wirral coastal run completing the Tour.
The runners even opted for fancy dress for the Hale leg of the Tour, despite the
scorching weather conditions. They were given a warm welcome by Lord Mayor Of
Hale Village, Paul Turton, who started the race and later congratulated runners
as they finished the line.
BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and
delivering headline race events in Liverpool City Region. Its growing portfolio
includes the Mersey Tunnel 10K; Wirral ˝ Marathon/10K; Port Sunlight 10K/5K;
Vitality Liverpool ˝ Marathon; and the Liverpool Santa Dash.
The BTR Tour Of Merseyside is the brainchild
of BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell, commented:- "What a phenomenal week, it
totally surpassed all our expectations, for both the BTR Team and the field of
300 runners. The Tourists completely embraced the challenge, and 52 miles is no
mean feat for any runner.
The pure grit, determination and sheer enjoyment shown by all; even through the
most challenging races of the Tour; has been nothing short of inspirational and
a joy to watch. Strong bonds and friendships are formed and this is what makes
the running community so welcoming.
The Tourists had extra fun along the way and opted for fancy dress at Hale, the
shortest race of the week. They certainly made the effort with so many creative
costumes in such hot weather conditions. We have to say a big thank you to the
Lord Mayor for being such a great sport, his encouragement gave the runners an
extra boost through what is a very long and challenging week. The 2016
Tour is only the fourth successive event, so for all 350 places to have sold out
in eight hours is incredible. Thank you to the runners and volunteers who make
the Tour Of Merseyside such a special and unique event in the running calendar."
As well as unattached runners and charity runners, there was a huge club
presence on Tour from across the region. These included:- Fylde Coast Runners; Helsby RC; Kirkby Milers; Knowsley Harriers; Liverpool Running Club; Mersey Tri;
Penny Lane Striders; Pensby Road Runners; Sale Harriers Manchester; Skelmersdale
Boundary Harriers; Southport Waterloo AC; Wirral AC; Spectrum Striders RC;
Wallasey AC; West Cheshire AC; and Wigan District Harriers AC.
The Tourists were joined by over 75 guest runners during the races at
Thurstaston, Hale and New Brighton.
Next in the BTR race calendar is a mini tour covering 26 miles. The BTR Whistle
Stop Tour Of Wirral is from 11 September to 13 September 2015, incorporating the award winning
BTR Wirral ˝ Marathon.
BTR recently won the title of Event Of The Year at the Wirral Tourism Awards
2015 for the Wirral ˝ Marathon/10K. Did you take part? If you did
let us know via emailing us to
news24@southportreporter.com. |
