Antrim Coast Half Marathon announces 8-year principal sponsorship with The Clearer Group
The Antrim Coast Half Marathon have announced, via BBC NI, that it has secured one of the longest Sponsorships in road running history with an 8-year agreement with The Clearer Group.
The agreement will see “Clearer Water” become the principal sponsor, which will see it running through to and include the race’s 10th year anniversary in 2030. The newly renamed “Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon” will be held on Sunday 27th August 2023.
The event was first held in 2020 and has not only been successful in being granted the World Athletics Elite Label Road Race status, only one of only two events in the
UK and Ireland to be awarded the Elite Label status, but now also holds the number 1 half marathon in the UK and number 2 in the world.
The race on the World Heritage Site of the Antrim Coast is regarded as one of the most beautiful races in the world and has runners, both elite and amateur participants, from across the globe, with the event broadcast worldwide via BBC iPlayer.
The 2021 Antrim Coast Half Marathon event set an unratified Women’s World Record and the 2022 event set new men and women’s UK and Ireland all comers records to finish the year with a global world ranking of No.2.
Previous winners of the event include double – double Olympic Champion Sir Mo Farah, Ethiopian Record holder Jemal Yimer and multiple World Record Holder and 2022 London Marathon winner Yalemzerf Yehualaw.
Clearer Water are an established “social impact company,” Clearer Water interests go beyond making profits; we are committed to positively impacting our community, as well as wider society.
Clearer Water is “The Water That Helps People.” employ a diverse mixed ability team and through an inclusive employment practices drive transformative social impact by closing the gap and championing on disability inclusion in the workplace.
Elite Race Director – James McIlroy BEM OLY said,
“We are delighted to have Clearer Water confirmed as our principal sponsor. One of our key objectives is to become the most sustainable running event in the World over the 8 -years and so the partnership with Clearer Water is a very good fit for what we are trying to achieve”.
Ross Lazaroo-Hood, Group CEO of The Clearer Group, “We are thrilled to see Clearer Water be the partner of choice for The Antrim Coast Half Marathon, which was also the backdrop of the HBO’s Game of Thrones and its spin-off House of the Dragon, in addition to being the gateway to the Glens of Antrim, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO world heritage site.
Our management team including Sitki Gelmen, David Hunter, Joanna McFaul and myself are delighted to be working with the Founders James and Ruth McIlroy of the newly renamed “Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon”. We will strive to continue their ethos and our own making a significant positive impact on the local communities, economy plus fabulous hospitality sectors across the island of Ireland. I am also proud to share that I will be joining the board of the Event. James and Ruth have built an inspiring Half Marathon in only 4 years, showcasing the next generation of runners here in Northern Ireland and across the globe”.
2023 Elite Race
The 2023 event promises to be the greatest Men’s race ever staged on the island of Ireland with 2-time winner and UK All comers record holder Jemal Yimer set to go head – to head with former World Junior Champion and Kenyan sensation Rodgers Kwemoi, both sub 59-minute runners.
UK All time No.2, Scotland’s Callum Hawkins is set to return for a 2nd year along with Ireland’s Kevin Seaward.
Race Director – James McIlroy said, ‘we’re absolutely delighted with how both the men’s and women’s races are shaping up. With teams from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Nigeria already confirmed, and major announcements expected after the spring marathons, we’re hopeful the 2023 event will be one of the stand out events on the World Athletics roster’.
Kid’s Mile now open at only £5
The Kid’s run will see former European Champion and five-time Olympian Jo Pavey, along with former two-time World Cross Country Silver medallist and London Marathon winner Catherina McKiernan, launch the Kid’s race and Street Mile. The Condor Executive Street Mile will only be £5 for kid’s to run with all participants receiving a tee shirt and medal with a chance to run with some legends of the sport.
The Condor Executive Street Mile will see Ethiopian Sensation and World Junior Champion Ermias Girma, look to become the first person ever to run a sub-4-minute road mile on the island of Ireland.
