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Organisers are calling on individuals and teams to take on the 48-mile challenge of the Channel Island's original ultra-marathon - the Round The Rock event - to support two local good causes, with just five months to go before the event takes place.
The event draws competitors from around the world - runners from Japan and the United States have taken part in previous years - and the Round the Rock was the first ultra marathon to be staged in the Channel Islands.
The 2016 event is once again sponsored by Greenlight and will take place on 6 August from the Steam Clock following 48 miles of Jersey’s coastline. The event is organised by runners Rob Douglas and Digby Ellis-Brecknell, who have managed to put the event on the ultra-marathon map in the last six years, and are hoping for even more this year.
Mr Ellis-Brecknell said: "We are very proud of the strong local and global following that Round the Rock has built up over the years and as the event grows it’s really important to us that we retain the local and friendly elements of the event because that’s what keeps people coming back each year.
"We have had people come from around the world to take part in Round the Rock, and although it’s a short course compared to some international ultra marathons it still requires a level of mental commitment and a standard of physical ability.
"We’ve had a great response from past and new participants already, but this year we are keen to grow the relay element of the event which offers the ideal opportunity for people new to ultra marathons to test their limits against those more experienced. We’re very grateful to Greenlight and Stonehage Fleming for their continued support since day one of Jersey’s original ultra marathon, and we look forward to seeing some familiar faces and welcoming newcomers in August.”
Eliot Lincoln of sponsors Greenlight added: “We’ve supported Round the Rock since inception and we’re really proud of how it has grown over the years and attracted some seriously good runners from around the world. While participants need to have a certain level of ability to take part the relay element makes this a more inclusive event than most ultra marathons and with Stonehage Fleming’s continued support, this we hope, will spread wider the appeal of Round the Rock. We look forward to another excellently organised event with more records set by individuals and teams this year.”
The fastest individual in 2015 completed the 48 mile course in 5:46:04. The fastest relay team came in at 6:02:03.
Registration is open online at www.roundtherock.co.uk and all funds raised from the event will be shared between Autism Jersey and Headway Jersey.
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