ONE of the Helensburgh area’s biggest employers has confirmed its support for the area’s annual 10K race series for a fourth year.

Babcock will again be title sponsors for the Babcock 10K series, which has grown steadily from around 1,500 runners in the first year of the company’s financial backing to 2,100 earlier this year.

The organisers of the event have also confirmed the dates for all three of next year’s races: the series will once again begin in Helensburgh, on Thursday, May 7 at 7.30pm, before continuing in Dumbarton on Thursday, May 14, again at 7.30pm, and concluding with the Shettleston 10k on Glasgow Green on Sunday, May 31 at 10am.

Babcock has confirmed its sponsorship of the Babcock 10k Series for a fourth great year, having taken over from the original sponsors Polaroid in 2017.

READ MORE: Pictures and full results from 2018's Babcock Helensburgh 10K

The series has grown steadily from around 1,500 runners in 2017 to 1,800 runners last year and 2,100 runners this year.

Times have also improved at the front, with sub 30 minute clockings for the men in both Helensurgh and Dumbarton this year and the women having pushed their record to 34:00 exactly. Weynay Ghebresilassie ran what was one of the fastest times in Scotland in May, in Helensburgh, with a new record in 29:32. Adam Craig was a shade over 30 mins in second place with 30:03.

Luke Traynor of Giffnock chased Tewelde Mengisteab’s record of 29:40 in Dumbarton but ran out an easy winner unpressed in 29:55. Ghebresilassie strode to a comfortable victory in the final race on Glasgow Green in 30:51, 41 seconds outside his own course record.

Meanwhile Fionnuala Ross picked up two victories with records both in Dumbarton, 34:00 and Shettleston 34:12, her home club. Fife dental student, Annabel Simpson took the honours in Helensburgh in a new course record of 34:49. Elspeth Curran, another dentist was second in Dumbarton in a quick 34:27 and third on Glasgow Green.

Start Fitness and their More Mile brand will be the running retail partner again. There will be more than £6,000 worth of prizes for the leading finishers, category winners and teams. More than £2,000 of this will be in cash prizes for the elite athletes.

READ MORE: Course records smashed as 700+ compete in 2018 Babcock Helensburgh 10K

Every finisher in each race will receive a unique commemorative medal and a goody bag containing More Mile running accessories. There will also be generous spot prizes spread throughout the field in each race.

Ghebresilassie, who recently achieved British citizenship in his adopted country, was fifth in the recent Great Scottish Run half marathon behind some world-class Kenyans.

Babcock’s managing director at HMNB Clyde, Gavin Leckie, who joined Team Clyde for two of the three 2019 races, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the race series again this year and are looking forward to signing up Team Clyde again and getting back into training.

“The 2019 race series was a great success and I’m sure that 2020 is going to be even better.”

Entries are now open at entrycentral.com (search for 'Babcock' to find each race date) with an ‘early bird’ discount of £10 off the series entry fee until the end of October or the first 200 entries.

This reduces the cost from £45 and £51 to £35 and £41 for affiliated and unaffiliated runners respectively, while individual race entry costs £21 and £23 respectively.

Series entrants will receive a special Babcock 10k Series technical T-shirt designed by Helensburgh AAC runner and local artist Stuart Scott.

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