The Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon team have announced that the 2018 Half Marathon, to be run on 9th September, may well be the last.
The organisers say they are hugely grateful for the generous sponsorship they have received from local firms but rising costs, along with the Council’s insistence on an earlier start time of 8.00 a.m. which has deterred out-of-town runners, mean that the sums just aren’t adding up.
Cllr Jane Milner-Barry, Labour spokesperson for sports development, says: “I was shocked to hear that the New Swindon Half is at risk.
“Last year 2,700 runners took part and the event raised £70,000 for local charities – probably even more.
“Events like this are really good for the town.
Cllr Milner-Barry continued: “If Bath, Reading and Oxford can run half marathons, why can’t Swindon?
We have reached out to Swindon Borough Council for a comment.
