The 2020 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon has been postponed and is now scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 20.
The knock-on effect is that the Belfast City Half Marathon scheduled for that date will be moved to February 28, 2021.
The postponement was almost inevitable given that other mass participation events such as the London Marathon had already joined the rapidly growing list of postponed/cancelled athletics events this Spring.
The Manchester Marathon scheduled for April 5, has also been postponed with organisers still hoping to find a free date in what is now a crowded Autumn fixture schedule.
The Belfast City Marathon now shares the same date as the Brighton Marathon, which was originally scheduled for April 19.
All participants who have registered for the Belfast City Marathon and the Belfast City Half Marathon will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled events on Sunday September 20 2020 or Sunday February 28 2021.
Anybody who does not want to take part, or is unable to do so for one reason or another, in the rescheduled events, will be able to defer their entry to the 2021 Belfast City Marathon, due to take place on Sunday, May 2 or the 2021 half marathon scheduled for Sunday, September 19 on making a request to the organisers by April 1. Participants who do not wish to take up one of the above options can transfer their entry to someone else for either of the rescheduled dates but must do so by June 1, 2020.
“Currently the world is in an unprecedented situation with the global pandemic of COVID -19 and our fundamental priority is the health of everyone,” said John Allen, Chairman of Belfast City Marathon Ltd.
“We appreciate your patience since the statement was released on Friday March 13 and would like to thank all our partners and sponsors for helping us to reschedule the 2020 dates of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon and Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon.”
The postponement also coincides with changes in personnel on the board that organises the Belfast City Marathon.
Nicola McCarthy ceased on March 12 while former race director David Seaton resigned after last year’s race which ended in controversy with the runners covering more than the appointed 26.2 miles.
The Born 2 Run Event Company also announced cancellation yesterday of its two upcoming events in Glenarm and Antrim: “As everyone is aware the rapidly developing issue of Covid-19 virus is of major concern right now.
“Running events by their nature see large numbers of people in close contact (particularly at the start/finish lines) and we as organisers have a responsibility to protect our runners and those they come into contact with in the community.
“With this in mind we have decided to cancel our next 2 races the Glenarm Castle Challenge and Shane's Castle Challenge for 2020.”
