On Sunday 22nd September 2019 the 7th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is gearing up for a record year with around 5,000 expected to take part. Starting on Ormeau Embankment at 9am, participants can expect a mainly flat and fast 13.1 mile route weaving its way across Belfast.
Exciting plans are afoot as more records are set to be broken this September! Local running celebrities and award-winning Maghera father and son duo, Tommy and Eoin Hughes, have chosen the 2019 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon event to attempt a Guinness World Record for combined father and son half marathon finish time!
Currently the Guinness World Record for a combined father and son half marathon (from 17th March this year at the Reading Half Marathon) stands at 2 hours 20 minutes 33 seconds and is held by an English Father and son, Paul (46 years old) and Josh (27 years old) Lunn.
Eoin commented:
“This is going to be a lot more challenging than the previous record held of 2 hours 24 minutes but thanks to my recent win in Lisburn, my half marathon PB is currently 69:14. This should set us up nicely for the Belfast Half. My dad is breaking age category records, world records for 59 years old and over 55 Irish records. We are confident we can give this the best go possible and break the current Guinness World Record!”
The stats speak for themselves, here’s what you need to know about this impressive father and son running team:
Tommy Hughes (59 years old)
- Marathon PB 2.13.59
- Ran for Ireland at the Barcelona Olympics 1992
- Holds Irish over 50s records for half marathon and marathon
- Holds Irish over 55s records 5km,10km, half marathon and marathon
- Holds age 59 world records for 5km, half marathon and marathon
- Recent PB’s: Rotterdam marathon 2.30.15, Newry half marathon 71.58, Buncrana 5km 16.14
Eoin Hughes (34 years old)
- Running for just over 3 years and is a member of Acorns AC
- 1st place in Lisburn Half Marathon, June 2019
- 1st place in the recent Athletics Northern Ireland “NI & Ulster 10,000m Championships”
- Half marathon PB is currently 69.14 (Lisburn Half Marathon)
This Autumn, Tommy and Eoin hope to challenge another Guinness World Record for combined father and son marathon time, that record currently stands at 5 hours 2 minutes 12 seconds.
The event organisers wish Tommy and Eoin the very best of luck for Sunday 22nd September and are encouraging as many as possible to come out and support them on race day! You can follow their progress in the coming weeks across the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon Facebook, Instagram and Twitter platform and via their website at www.belfastcitymarathon.com
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is renowned for its popular, mainly flat and fast course, perfect for a first time Half Marathon or PB! Fantastic local support is expected throughout the course, following an amazing turn out at the main marathon event in May this year. The event is expected to sell out for the 3rd year in a row with a record number of participants anticipated (around 5000).
SIGN UP for the 7th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon NOW at https://register.primoevents.com/ps/event/DeepRiverRockBelfastCityHalfMarathon2019 and don’t forget to select one of the event charity partners when registering! Final entry deadline will be on Friday 30th August 2019.
More details can be found at www.belfastcitymarathon.com. #ChooseBelfast
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Athletics Northern Ireland, Daily Mirror, Belfast City Council, Better, Translink, Daily Mirror, Spar, Belfast Live and Framar Health. Sampling partners are Deep RiverRock, Tayto, White’s Oats and Linwoods. This year’s official charities are Belfast Arthroplasty Research Trust (BART); Cancer Focus NI; Stroke Association; Air Ambulance NI and Action Mental Health.
For further information on this press release please contact: Elaine Riddell, Marketing and Events Officer, Belfast City Marathon on: 028 9060 5944 or 077 9647 2510
