Long distance running legend Ron Hill is to be the guest of honour at the 50th anniversary Isle of Man Easter Athletics Festival, 40 years after making his last appearance on the island.
 
Hill, now 73, won gold medals in the marathon at the European championships in Athens in 1969 and the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. He was made an MBE the following year.
 
He finished 19th in the marathon in the Tokyo Olympics of 1964 and 6th at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Hill also set world records at four other distances.
 
He is also famous for his amazing record of running every day of his life and hasn’t missed a day of running since December 1964.
 
Ron Hill’s is arguably the most successful athlete to ever take part in the Easter Athletics Festival. Organisers say he was “the natural choice” as guest of honour for the 50th anniversary of the festival.
 
Several previous winners since 1972 are already lined up for the three-day festival over the Easter weekend, featuring individual and team races for all ages and abilities in what is recognised as one of the best fun events on the British athletics calendar.
 
The 50th Isle of Man Easter Athletics Festival takes place from Good Friday to Easter Sunday - April 6th to 8th.  Events comprise a 10k road race on Good Friday evening starting on Port Erin Promenade, the Peel Hill Race on Saturday afternoon and a 5k road relay on Douglas Promenade on Easter Sunday morning.

Entries close on March 24th.

For more information see www.easterfestival.info

-ENDS-