A total of 257 entries have been received for Sunday’s Syd Quirk Half-Marathon, including approximately 200 runners.

Organised by Isle of Man Veteran Athletes’ Club and sponsored by local timber and building supplies company Haldane Fisher, the event will start at 8.30am when around 50 walkers will commence their first lap of the six-mile road course taking in Ballasalla, Cross Four Ways, Ballabeg, Ballakaighan, Castletown Bypass and the main road past Ronaldsway Airport.

At the end of lap two there will be a short loop of Ronaldsway Industrial Estate to make up the 13.1 mile distance.

The clear favourite for the walk has to be Erika Kelly of Northern AC, who has a personal best for 20km of 1:41.27. In theory, she should ’walk’ it (and probably set a faster time than most of the runners into the bargain)!

Gianni Epifani should be well up the order, likewise Parish Walk regulars Richard Gerrard, Dave Walker, Sam Fletcher, James Quirk and Dale Farquhar. Marie Jackson will also be thereabouts.

Slower runners expecting to take more than 2hr 15min to complete will start at 8.45am, followed by the main field of runners at 9.30.

Favourites for that should be Christian Varley, Jamie Newton and Jack Okell, with Varley no doubt aiming to complete a double with the IoM half-marathon championship after sealing the full marathon title at Ramsey in early August.

Orran Smith will be vying for fourth, while Sarah Webster looks the favourite for the women’s title.

Parking will be available outside the former Ronaldsway Social Club.

Race numbers and bibs with the integrated timing chips are to be allocated at registration on Friday (5.30pm to 7.30pm) at Manx Harriers clubhouse, on the NSC perimeter road. Please note, no registration will be available on race day. Full details on the club website: www.iomvac.co.uk

l Race reports will appear in next week’s IoM Examiner and Manx Independent.