We’re delighted to announce that Plusnet will be funding a TV highlights programme of the first ever Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon. This TV event will debut on Channel 4 on Sunday 3rd November 2013 at 7.00am. The marathon will see more than 6,500 runners (including corporate relay teams) take to the streets of York on Sunday 20th October. Plusnet has commissioned Dream Team Television to produce a 50 minute highlights programme of this year’s event, which Channel 4 will premiere just weeks later. Jamie Ford, CEO of Plusnet, said:
“The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon has had great interest even before anyone takes to the start line. We are very proud to be supporting the event and pleased that it will now be showcased to a broader audience through this TV programme.”
Jamie Aitchison, Sports Editor, Channel 4 said,
“We’re really pleased to be able to support the Yorkshire Marathon in its first ever year by broadcasting it on Channel 4.”
In addition to Channel 4, a number of other leading broadcasters also intend to broadcast the completed production later in the autumn including: BT Sport, Sky Sports, British Eurosport and a number of overseas sporting channels.
The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon team
The production team will be joined by a high profile presenting team that includes Rob Walker, Dean Macey and Charlie Webster. Rob is the current BBC master of ceremonies for the World Snooker Championships and was the BBC Olympic reporter who followed Ben Ainslie’s gold medal exploits in both the Beijing and London games. Dean is a former decathlete, winning World Championship and Commonwealth Games medals; he has since added a string of presenting credits to his CV. Charlie has reported and presented for BBC Football Focus, Channel 4 and is a regular Sky Sports News presenter. Rob Walker, who will be the lead presenter for the event, said:
“York is a beautiful city and with the marathon course being flat, we’re looking to see some great times clocked on the day. However, what makes this sporting event so unique is the focus on involving members of the general public, to raise money for charities close to their heart. “Capturing stories of the individual runners within this splendid backdrop is the recipe for a great TV programme.”
Sold-out in 3 days
When the marathon was first announced in January of this year, all 5,500 initial running places were snapped up within just three days. In April, capacity was increased to 6,100 and the extra places were taken within just two minutes of release. A further 500 people will take part in the marathon’s corporate relay. The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon is being organised by the same team responsible for the successful Run For All 10K series and Leeds Half Marathon. It stands as part of the lasting legacy of the late Jane Tomlinson CBE, who raised almost £2million by completing a series of amazing sporting challenges, despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer. Jane’s husband, Mike Tomlinson, said:
“The level of support for the first ever Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon has been nothing short of phenomenal; entries have come in from across the UK and around the world. “To have the event showcased on television in its very first year will raise the profile of the event further still, helping us to cement the marathon’s growing reputation as one of the UK’s flagship events.”
The Marathon course
The marathon course starts and finishes at the Heslington campus, part of the University of York with the scenic course winding through Walmgate Bar, Parliament Street and St Helen’s Square. Landmarks along the route include the famous Betty’s tearooms and the imposing York Minster. Runners will leave the city walls via the ornate Monk Bar and then journey on around the Vale of York and the villages and towns of North Yorkshire. Any you planning to run the inaugural Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon? Leave a comment below and tell us how you’re getting on with your training ...