Easter Festival Stars

I haven't checked the statistics in detail but feel sure that the entry for the Easter Festival is the best for some years.

Congratulations to everyone involved but particularly Kim Harding, Chris Quine, David Ronan & Paul Jackson who took the event by the scruff of the neck a few years ago and have transformed it.

Although it has never been an event that I have focused on, what I like about it is the age profile. The majority of the entrants are young and close to their peak. Maybe some of them use it as a springboard just before they reach their peak, but that makes it really interesting when, a year or two later, the stars of the Isle of Man Easter Festival become the stars of the track.

What has been slightly less pleasing has been the decline in local runners competing. There is a bigger representation from the Manx Fell Runners this year (the Manx Mountain Marathon will not be staged until the end of September), Manx Tri club are there, the host club Manx Harriers have a reasonable turnout, and there are a few from Western AC and the Veterans club. But there is not a single male entry from Northern AC.

Rosy Craine lines up in the 339 strong field for the Good Friday 10km. Late entries can be made for an extra fee and   I hope more local entrants will be among the final 400 or so expected.

Northern AC will be commencing their five round Ramsey Park Run series, sponsored by Up &  Running, nine days after the Easter Festival and there is another chance to compete against local opposition four days before that in the Scott Physiotherapy sponsored Dave Phillips Road Races (same week as Easter).