NEARLY 10,000 runners took on the 2015 Brighton Marathon as the spring sun shone on Sussex.
The city’s sixth marathon was once again a roaring success as an estimated 100,000 people flooded to the coast to soak up the atmosphere and cheer the hardy runners on.
It may not have been a record-breaking day for the elite runners, but about £6 million was raised for charities in what race founder Tim Hutchings called the biggest race ever and 900 people have already signed up for 2016.
He said: “There was no course record, but that doesn’t really matter.
“The crowds were probably the biggest we’ve ever seen and it’s the first sunny day we’ve had for a couple of years and that always makes a difference.
“The Beach Village has really grown and now charities are able to set up there and offer runners so much more as a way of thanks.
“I would say it’s been our biggest year.
“It was a well oiled machine and that’s down to Tom Naylor as race director and the hundreds of people giving their time and efforts to make sure it runs smoothly – I’ve been blown away by it.
“We were convinced we were going to get through the 10,000 barrier, but I’m sure something will be able to tell us why we haven’t done that, but again, it doesn’t matter, because the subjective feedback we’ve had has been incredible.”
It was a Kenyan double when it came to the elite athletes, as Duncan Maiyo and Pennina Wanjiru crossed as the fastest man and woman.
Brighton College teacher Chris Thompson was the second Briton to finish the Brighton Marathon.
And as the clock ticked into the afternoon the amateur runners began piling over the finish line in weird and wonderful costumes.
Despite an estimated £6 million spent in the city over the weekend, some business owners in Madeira Drive were unimpressed by the way the marathon had been organised, restricting access to their shops.
Greg Harman, owner of The Madeira Cafe, said: “It's too controlled access, no one can get to us.
“I reckon the tax man would think we were lying if he looked at our books from today. Despite all these people we do worse than on a normal day.
“They should build a bridge going over the track like they have on Kings Road.
“It’s a great event for Brighton as it attracts so many people. But there are winners and losers in this event, and we are the losers.”
The temporary bridge over the King’s Road that gives people access over the race course to the beach was installed for the marathon both last year and this year.
David Roberts, owner of Fish and Liquor, which first opened up three months ago said: “It would be good if access was opened up for businesses. We spent a lot of money on extra stock for today, but the way it’s been organised we'll probably make less than a normal day.
“Five people tweeted us today saying they couldn't get to us.”
Mr Hutchings said: “We bring 100,000 people to the city and 99% of the businesses will have done well today. For those that haven’t we’d love to hear from them because we don’t want anybody going away feeling let down by the event.”
Kev Luxford, owner of The Grand Junction, a cafe and restaurant west of the pier which is just below bridge crossing on Kings Road, was far happier.
He said: “The marathon is brilliant, it brings lots of different people to the town, as it should. It's good for the town.”
When asked about whether the bridge had made a difference, he said: “That bridge was a fantastic idea. I didn't campaign for it, but I did complain because nobody could get to us, and one year there it was. It should be there every year.”
- Additional reporting by Ryan Benjamin, Caitlin Webb, William Axtell, James Woolven, Aden Simpson and Guy Wilson.
- The names of every runner from Brighton Marathon 2015 will be listed in Tuesday’s paper. Pictures from the Mini Mile event on Saturday will be in Wednesday’s Youth in Action supplement.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel