Irish runners join race along coast

HUNDREDS of runners from as far afield as Ireland will join Olympic gold medal winner Sally Gunnell for a 10k race on the Yorkshire coast this weekend.

The 2010 McCain Yorkshire Coast 10k road race and 2.5k family fun run take place in the North Yorkshire resort on Sunday.

The event has attracted competitors from across the country and is being staged to help raise money for a new track facility for the Scarborough Athletic Club.

Among the runners will be Tom Cahill and Andy Maloney from Ireland, who were in Scarborough last year at the time of the inaugural 10k event and were so impressed with it they decided to come back this year to participate.

Ms Gunnell, who is the McCain athletics ambassador, won Olympic gold in the 400m hurdles at Barcelona in 1982 and is due to officially start both races and take part in the 10k event.

She is the only woman in history to have held four major titles of Olympic, World, European, and Commonwealth champion at the same time.

She said: “As a busy mum of three boys I fully understand the pressures of getting the kids outside and active.

“I fully support McCain giving families the opportunity to spend time together and become engaged in physical activity at the McCain Yorkshire Coast 10k and 2.5k family fun run.

“After a hugely successful event last year, I’m delighted to be taking part for the second year running and am looking forward to being part of a fantastic atmosphere once again.”

The nearest athletics tracks to Scarborough are currently in Hull, York and Guisborough.