New Sheffield Half Marathon organiser found after water fiasco

A new organiser was today announced for the Sheffield Half Marathon after this year’s race was cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of water.
Confusion at the start line of the Sheffield Half Marathon.Confusion at the start line of the Sheffield Half Marathon.
Confusion at the start line of the Sheffield Half Marathon.

Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All has entered into a partnership with Sheffield City Council to organise the new Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon-Sheffield on April 12.

The not-for-profit events firm is part of the legacy of the late Jane Tomlinson CBE, who raised £1.85 million for charity despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer.

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It already stages events including The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, the Leeds Half Marathon and 10K events in Leeds, York, Hull and Burnley.

This year’s Sheffield Half Marathon was axed at the last minute because of insufficient water supplies, though many runners completed the 13-mile course anyway because they could not hear the tannoy announcements.

In the days after the cancelled race, supplier Water Direct said it was not paid by Sheffield Marathon Ltd, but organisers said they were never told to pay in advance.

Voluntary organisers, who came under intense fire for the botched event from thousands of runners and community leaders, as well as international headlines, announced in June that they would not be putting it on again.

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Run For All’s Mike Tomlinson said: “We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to work in partnership with Sheffield City Council on such a fantastic event.

“Sheffield is rightly known as the City of Sport. It has a fantastic sporting heritage and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to organise the first Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon.

“We are confident that, with the council’s support, we can develop a half marathon of which the whole of Yorkshire can be proud.

“It’s great also that we can confirm today that Plusnet will be the headline sponsor for the event. This award winning company is already the major sponsor of our marathon event and it’s great to see them now supporting good causes through the Half Marathon.”

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Councillor Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “I’m really pleased that there will be a half marathon in the city next year and we are delighted to welcome the new organisers and this new event to the city.

“It’s time for next year’s half marathon runners to start planning their training - Sheffield is an ideal city for runners with its green routes and proximity to the Peak District with wonderful routes that are just ideal for first-time runners to discover

“Having a local race to train for is very motivating and I hope today’s launch will encourage people to get running.”

The route of the new Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon-Sheffield will start and finish in the city centre and take in some of Sheffield’s landmark sites