The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH a little more prize money to offer, the Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club is hoping that they can attract more international competitors to participate in their signature 7th annual Bahamas Half, 10K, 5K, 3K and Half marathon relay on Sunday, November 24.

The club launched this year’s event during a press conference yesterday at the Nassau Courtyard by Marriott where president Marcel Major revealed that they are offering a 20 per cent discount off the current rate to those competitors who sign up by midnight on Sunday.

With part proceeds from the event going to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre - Psychiatric Group Homes, the Bahamas Half has launched this year’s race with a reduction in the entry fee by midnight on Sunday.

The current rate for the half marathon is $60, but the early birds can register for $48 and the entry for the relay is $90 and it will be discounted to $72, the 10K is $40, reduced now to $32 and the 5K and 3K is $30, chopped down to $24.

Interested persons can register today on the club’s website at www.bahamashalf.com

The Bahamas Half starts at Arawak Cay and will travel west on the Cable Beach strip to the SunFun Resort and back east to Awarak Cay. The 10K will head from Arawak Cay to Goodman’s Bay and back, while the 5K and 3K will have a shorter distance along the race course.

“So far in our seventh year, we have attracted a lot of international participants,” Major said. “This year, we are excited and pleased with the host hotel, Nassau Courtyard by Marriott, we expect to get quite a bit of international runners this year.”

Started in 1990 by a group of competitors who had an interest in long-distance running, this year the club is offering $13,000 in prize money, including $5,000 for both the male and female first-place finishers in the half marathon or 13.1 miles that will cover a course that will start and finish at Arawak Cay.

Additionally, $1,000 will be presented to the second-place finishers in both categories and $500 will be awarded to the third-place finishers. The cash incentive is the club’s way of trying to attract more international competitors.

“That’s the reason why we have launched early this year so that we can attract international participants,” Major said.

All three winners in the other categories will be receiving trophies.

Cancer Treatment Assist

Tina Lightbourn, a representative for Cancer Treatment Center of America, a hospital that deals with severe cancer cases, noted that they have hospitals located in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pheonix and Tulsa.

“The good news is we’re getting very good results. They are doing very well,” said Lightbourn about Bahamians who are referred to the various hospitals for treatment.

“So we thought it’s only fitting to give back to an organisation like Roadmasters who do so much civic work. We are really impressed with the work that you guys are doing.”

As a runner herself, having participated in all six previous Bahamas Half, albeit in the 10K, Lightbourn has revealed that Cancer Treatment Centers for America will be offering five spots - one for the half marathon, two in the 10K, 1 in the 5K and the other in the 3K.

Those spots will be offered free of charge to the first persons to make the inquiries to Bahamas Half, Major or Lightbourn on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Pompey Race Support

Kevin Taylor, representing the Race for Pompey, said they are also delighted to be partnering with Bahamas Half for the hosting of their seventh event. He noted that the Race for Pompey is now into its fifth year and serves as a tune-up for the Bahamas Half.

“Last year was our first sold-out race,” Taylor said. “So we are inviting all Bahamians to come to Exuma for this year’s race on November 9 before participating in this year’s Bahamas Half.

“We recently gave away our fourth scholarship to post-secondary institutions to a deserving student. This year Cynthia Smith is going to the University of the Bahamas for psychology. We have students studying in Canada and now two at the University of the Bahamas.”

Through the Exuma Foundation of Canada, Taylor said they identify the scholarship recipient.

He noted that persons interested in participating in this year’s event can register online at www.runforpompey.com where they can log on and receive a special code for lodging while in Exuma.

Rooms at Nassau Courtyard

Joy Smith, the director of sales and marketing at Nassau Courtyard by Marriott, said they too are pleased to participate with Bahamas Half and will be offering great rates for the event.

“We are fully renovated, the rooms are beautiful and we are conveniently located just in walking distance to downtown and of course across the street from Junkanoo Beach and the famous Fish Fry,” she said.

“The Courtyard by Marriott has benefitted greatly from sports tourism and we found it only fitting to partner with Bahamas Roadmasters as the host hotel. We look forward to welcoming all of the wonderful guests with us. We want to thank Bahamas Roadmasters for reaching out to us and we congratulate you in this awesome venture.”

Ministry of Tourism

Nardo Dean, representing the Sports Division of the Ministry of Tourism, expressed gratitude on behalf of Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Dionisio D’Aguilar and Sports Department, headed by “Golden Girl” Eldece Clarke, for being a part of the event.

“As you know, the sporting department of the ministry wants to be a part of any event that not only brings revenue to our country, but that will also bring international sportsmen to our shores.

“This event will be bringing in some persons internationally and we have the weather, the geography and everything to make it happen. We will be exposing those international athletes to the Bahamas and also giving our local athletes the opportunity to run with the international athletes.”

Major, who is sitting at the helm as president of his second consecutive Bahamas Half, said he’s grateful for the contributions of past presidents Charles Johnson, George Smith and Theodore Jackson and the support of their members.

“We are extremely pleased with our growth and I am extremely pleased with my team,” Major said. “We are extremely pleased to see where we have come from in the past seven years.

“Last year we had 620 persons and this year we are targeting close to 800. Last year, we had about 70-80 international persons, so we’re growing. Before we only had a package pick up at one store. Last year we had an expo and this year we are taking it even further with vendors to take it to a different level.”

So far, more than $50,000 has been awarded to local charities since the inception of the event by the non-profit sporting body, thanks in part to their association with the Buckeye Event in February that attracted more than 1,000 persons and another event that has brought more than 700 visitors to the Bahamas.