A leading Isle of Man triathlete, with experience on the world stage, has declared that a home-grown, Island based event has left rival races in the shade after the outstanding success of this year’s event.
Antony Bell Scott, who captained the SMP Partners team in this year’s epic Race the Sun Challenge, offered a ringing endorsement for the event which now seems certain to become a regular fixture in the local sporting calendar.
'I have done cycling, running and triathlon events all over the world and this was, without a doubt, the most enjoyable thing I’ve been involved with' said Antony.
Race the Sun, sponsored by Mann Made Group, the leading trust and corporate service providers in aid of the Isle of Man Children’s Centre, involved each team completing a clockwise relay running lap of the near 100 mile Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath, between sunrise and sunset on the last Saturday in June.
The first bleary-eyed competitors set off from Peel Yacht Club at 4.47am with each team’s target to cross the finishing line before the 9.55pm sunset at the same venue.
Fittingly, all twelve teams who started the epic race were able to complete the course with the final team crossing the finishing line back at Peel Yacht Club some eight minutes before the went down.
Taking in rugged cliff tops, lush glens, remote mountains, tidal estuaries and isolated beaches, this was not a race for the fainthearted.
Wisely, most of the teams who entered, opted for their full quota of 10 competitors, ensuring no one individual runner had to cover more than about 10 miles.
This year’s Race the Sun was conducted in fine conditions which contributed to a healthy number of spectators supporting the runners, especially at each of the 10 transition points around the 96 mile course.
The race was won by the ten-man IOMCC team in a record time of 13 hours 51 minutes and 58 seconds. Runners-up were PDMS who completed in just over 14 hours.
It’s been estimated that at least ?3500 will have been raised in sponsorship which will go towards Mobex, the IOMCC’s mobile outdoor education facility for young people.
IOMCC Chief Executive John Knight not only took part in the race but also declared the event a major success. He was also was quick to recognise the support of Mann Made Groups event sponsorship.
'Without Mann Made Groups financial support it would not have been possible to stage the event,' said Mr Knight.
'I’m proud that Race the Sun is now firmly established in the Isle of Man’s sporting calendar.
'Last year was almost a trial run, but this year we attracted 12 teams involving well over 100 competitors and the event was superbly supported by sponsors and spectators alike.
'I am confident in 2010 that we will attract an even greater number of entrants for Race the Sun, not just from the Island but also from across the UK as well' added Mr Knight.
