Run For All, part of the Jane Tomlinson Appeal charity, will take over the administration of the Sheffield Half Marathon, after "personal attacks" over the last-minute cancellation of this year’s race led the previous organisers to step down.
The race was called off in April as runners waited at the starting line when enough water did not arrive on the day. Race-goers described confusion as 4,100 runners raced anyway, with some not aware that the race had been cancelled.
The previous organisation committee, Sheffield Marathon Ltd, stepped down in June after receiving “personal attacks” following the cancellation.
The committee had said that refunds for the race would come from a fund earmarked for charities, before announcing last month that an agreement between Stourbridge Water Direct Ltd, who were responsible for supplying the water at the race but claimed that they were never paid, and Sheffield Marathon Ltd, to make a contribution to each of the nominated charities.
The Sheffield Half Marathon will now be called the Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon. It will be staged in Sheffield on Sunday 12 April and sponsored by phone and broadband provider Plusnet.
Councillor Isobel Bowler, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport at Sheffield City Council, said: “I'm really pleased that there will be a half marathon in the city next year and we are delighted to welcome the new organisers and this new event to the city.”
Run For All is part of the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, set up in memory of the late Jane Tomlinson, who raised £1.85m through a series of endurance challenges, despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer. The organisation already organises the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, the Leeds half Marathon and other 10km events in Leeds, York, Hull and Burnley.
Run For All’s Mark Tomlinson said: “We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to work in partnership with Sheffield City Council on such a fantastic event.
“Sheffield is rightly known as the City of Sport. It has a fantastic sporting heritage and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to organise the first Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon.”
People who had entered the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon and choose to pre-register for the Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon Sheffield are entitled to a discount.
