Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.
Latest Stories

SPAR NI to support Omagh Half Marathon for 17th consecutive year

SPAR Omagh Half Marathon

17th year of SPAR support for Omagh Half Marathon

Photo: Henderson Group
Kiran Paul
By Kiran PaulDec 27, 2024
Kiran Paul
See Full Bio

The SPAR Omagh Half Marathon and 5K Run is set to return on Sunday 6 April 2025, with the town and local retailer SPAR NI showing full support for the event for the 17th consecutive year.

This year will mark the Omagh Half Marathon’s 35th birthday, which has grown to be a major fixture in the Athletics road running calendar, with many runners returning year on year to participate and enjoy the festival atmosphere.

This year, Omagh Harriers have increased their entry numbers to over 3500 half marathon runners, which will be their largest participant field to date, with a further 1000 running and walking the 5K route.

Darcey Wilson, corporate marketing executive at Henderson Group, which owns the SPAR brand in Northern Ireland, said that SPAR NI is thrilled to be back on board as title sponsor for the event.

“We’re so proud to be playing a part in delivering such a great event which is one of the key events in our calendar every year and an extra special one this year celebrating the Omagh Half’s 35th birthday. At SPAR NI, we are passionate about supporting events like this and promoting health and fitness initiatives throughout the country,” Wilson commented.

“Look out for us in Omagh on the day, as we’ll be cheering on the runners and walkers, and handing out some exciting prizes and goodies from SPAR NI.”

This year’s Half Marathon Walk commences at 08:30am, with the Half Marathon Run setting off at 09:30am, followed by the 5K at 09:45am. All participants start and end at Omagh Leisure Complex on the Old Mountfield Road and it is anticipated that there will be a total field of 4500 runners, joggers and walkers.

“On behalf of all the organisers, I’d like to pay tribute to our title sponsor SPAR NI, who have worked closely with us to grow and develop the race into the popular event which exists today,” Michael Ward, race director, said.

“We have witnessed this event grow enormously over the past 35 years. There is a growth in the amount of people pursuing a healthier lifestyle and with the pace and stresses of everyday living, running is a great release and also a way of meeting new friends.”

“The Omagh Half isn’t just for competitive runners”, Ward continued. “Our annual 5K run also attracts huge numbers, right through from primary school children to the more experienced. This year’s race also welcomes a new and exciting element for the 5K runners. There is a team prize up for grabs for the winning non-running sports club, this can be any sports club from rugby, Gaelic or football to badminton, table tennis and darts.

“For those who aren’t registered for this year, we would invite them to come down and enjoy the magical atmosphere on Sunday 6th April, it might even encourage you to register to walk, jog or run the course next year”.

The half marathon event for 2025 is sold out; however, registrations are still open at sientries.co.uk for the 5k Run.

This year’s beneficiary charity is Care for Cancer, a local charity that provides support to individuals and their families who have been affected by cancer in Omagh and surrounding areas, providing a drop-in service, transport to hospital appointments, reflexology sessions and much more. This year, Omagh Harriers will donate £3 from every half marathon entry to Care for Cancer. Participants are welcome to raise additional funds, to find out more about the charity, visit https://careforcancer.co.uk/

henderson groupomagh half marathon and 5k runspar northern ireland

Related News

More for you

Leerdammer launches ‘Talk It Out’ initiative in support of YoungMinds charity

Leerdammer launches ‘Talk It Out’ initiative in support of YoungMinds charity

Natural cheese slice brand Leerdammer has launched a new initiative, "Talk It Out", in support of YoungMinds. The new mental health programme will use comedy to help parents and young people to get talking and have better conversations about mental wellbeing.

Research shows that three-quarters (76 per cent) of parents said their children’s mental health had deteriorated while waiting for support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

To launch Talk It Out, award-winning Bristol born comedian Stuart Goldsmith performed a one-off special stand-up gig at the Bristol Grammar School on 13 January. Encouraging students and parents to tackle talking about mental wellbeing through humour, attendees were also signposted to the expert support, advice and guidance that YoungMinds offers.

Lactalis UK & Ireland hope to roll the initiative out across the UK later in the year, to reach and support even more families in need.

“We have developed an initiative that we hope will really have a positive impact on young people’s mental health but also, importantly, raise awareness of YoungMinds so they can guide parents and their children towards accessing better mental health care," said Heloise Le Norcy-Trott, Group Marketing Director at Lactalis UK & Ireland.

"Leerdammer is an uplifting and comedic brand, so we were motivated to tap into our unique personality with a partnership that would really make a difference among local communities. It’s clear that talking about mental health can be hard, but humour is a great way of initiating a conversation about difficult subjects which are often avoided by families. We hope by using Leedammer to support YoungMinds – and by bringing comedians in to speak to the students – they and their parents will see how essential it is to start these conversations and realise there is support out there available to them.

“We are piloting the idea this month, then aiming to roll this out across the UK later in the year so we can reach and support even more families in need. We are always looking at ways to strengthen our positive impact across the UK and are grateful to Stuart Goldsmith for taking time to help spread the word.”

Vernon Samuels, Parent Engagement Officer at YoungMinds said: “We are delighted that Leerdammer is bringing attention to YoungMinds services in this way and helping to open up the conversation about children and young people’s mental health through “Talk it Out”. Our Parent Engagement Officer in Bristol will be providing community outreach and parent / carer engagement sessions to create a safe space for parents to get peer support, and this initiative will help us reach more people who need YoungMinds’ support.”

Shop window in Crickhowell high street selling a range of locally produced alcoholic drinks

Shop window in Crickhowell high street, in Powys, Wales, selling a range of locally produced alcoholic drinks

Photo: iStock

Welsh government urged to raise minimum alcohol price

The Welsh government has been advised to increase the minimum price per unit of alcohol to at least 65p to maintain the positive impacts observed since the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol (MPA) in 2020.

This recommendation is the key finding from an independent evaluation report published on Wednesday, which assessed the policy’s effect on alcohol-related behaviours, consumption, and retail outcomes.

Keep ReadingShow less
groceryaid logo

GroceryAid to oversee welfare funds of former Tobacco Trade Benevolent Association

GroceryAid has announced that it will assume responsibility for the welfare funds of the former Tobacco Trade Benevolent Association from early February.

Currently overseen by the Tobacco Pipe Makers & Tobacco Trade Benevolent Fund, GroceryAid said the move will extend the charity’s reach and give current as well as former tobacco industry workers, including those from manufacturing, wholesale and retail, access to its wide range of welfare services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Convenience retail remains 'robust sector despite rising crime'

iStock image

Convenience retail remains 'robust sector despite rising crime'

Convenience retail continues to remain a robust sector despite rising crime and state intervention on unhealthy products, states leading property adviser Christie & Co today (16) in its annual report.

Christie & Co's report "Business Outlook 2025" reflects on key market activity, trends and challenges of 2024 and forecasts what 2025 might bring across the industries, including the convenience retail sector.

Keep ReadingShow less
JUUL2 Ruby Menthol Angled

Switching to JUUL2 matches tobacco abstinence in reducing harmful substance exposure: study

A recent study by Juul Labs researchers has revealed that adult smokers who completely switched to using the JUUL2 system achieved reductions in exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) that were comparable to those who abstained entirely from tobacco and nicotine products.

The study, published in the journal Biomarkers, highlights the potential of JUUL2 as a harm reduction tool for smokers unable or unwilling to quit nicotine entirely.

Keep ReadingShow less