A 10K Series will be introduced next year to sit alongside the Grand Prix Series in 2025 as the Norfolk running scene enters a new era.
Sportlink will be continuing its sponsorship of the Grand Prix Series and is delighted to be associated with the 10K Series in the same way.
The Sportlink Grand Prix Series has been reduced to 10 races from 14 last year whilst seeing the addition of the Sportlink 10K Series when running clubs will have the chance to battle it out over nine races, mob match style.
Chairman of the Athletics Norfolk Road Race Committee, Ceri Theobald, said: “The series has consistently been popular, with 14 races included in the 2024 edition. However, feedback indicated that this number made it challenging for runners to target the entire series. Given the high quality of races available, we saw an opportunity to create two distinct series that runners can focus on, each offering its own appeal.
“The first is the Grand Prix Series, which will continue the tradition of offering a variety of race distances, ranging from 5K to 20 miles. This format mirrors previous Grand Prix series, allowing runners to experience a range of challenges.
“Additionally, we recognised the abundance of 10K races throughout the county, which led to the creation of a dedicated 10K Series. This will give runners a focused goal for the year, while also introducing a club league element to foster some friendly inter-club competition.
“The individual scoring format for this series will align with that of the Grand Prix, ensuring consistency and fair competition across both.
“To cap off the year, we’ve also developed the Sportlink Celebration Evening in November. This event will not only celebrate the achievements of runners from across the county but also recognise the invaluable contributions of those who support the running community in a broader sense.
“We’re very excited about these developments, and I believe they will add even more value and excitement to the Sportlink series.”
Sportlink owner, Neil Featherby, added: “Norfolk has got a great tradition when it comes to running. We know that some people outside the area consider it a bit of an outpost but that’s why we sponsor the series – we want to highlight what a thriving running community the county has got.
“We hope that things like Sportlink TV and the new website can highlight the high standards in Norfolk. We’ve got such a well organised running scene, putting on brilliant events on an almost weekly basis and with the two series next year it looks like 2025 is going to be the best yet.”
Places are already on sale for the first races in both series.
You can sign up for the Wymondham New Year's Day 10K here or the Reedham Ten race here.
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