SUPPORT for a mile race along the Town front is growing. It is believed packing the St Peter Port centre with crowds watching quality athletes on a specially designated course would heighten the island’s profile abroad.
The idea has already been backed by the island’s leading distance runner Lee Merrien as a way of capitalising on Guernsey’s fast and beautiful courses.
But any such move would need strong financial backing - although that is not expected to prove an obstacle. Sports Guernsey would be more than happy to consider the concept of the idea at a future meeting.
‘I think it’s a good idea and the kind of event that Sports Guernsey would certainly consider helping with. It sounds like it would be really good,’ said committee member Graham Chester.
‘These are the sort of events as a community we would like to bring to Guernsey. It raises the profile of sport and particularly athletics, and gives Guernsey a better name in the athletics world as well,’ he said.
‘Primarily Sports Guernsey tries to attract these better events to Guernsey and that is one of them.’
Chester believes it would be feasible to hold the first town-front mile as early as next year.
‘It’s for athletics to come to us and we will consider it at one of our future meetings. We would get involved in the concept of the event and it’s for them to decide where they want to run the race,’ said Chester.
‘The more high-profile sporting events we can attract to Guernsey the better.’
Experienced town trader Terry Ferbrache, who sponsors the successful Fletchersports FA Cup, backs the idea.
‘It’s a brilliant idea and anything like that to show off our front, which is the prettiest in the Channel Islands, will be fantastic.’
He believes town would make a superb backdrop and would lend itself to such an event.
‘Anything to enhance the town and make it more attractive has got to be a bonus,’ said Ferbrache.
He would back a similar course along the town streets and through Church Square as the one used by cyclists in the race at the last Island Games to be staged in the island.
‘There are plenty of places to view and there would be minimal disruption to traffic. A short course with decent commentary would be fantastic,’ he said.
Culture and Leisure’s marketing director Peter Falla spoke positively, too.
‘Particularly being involved in Sports Guernsey, anything that can be arranged and organised to raise the profile of Guernsey for a race of the kind being proposed, which will bring serious off-island competitors as well as hopefully involve local participants, has to be good for the island.’
‘We would be interested to hear from those proposing this race to enter a dialogue with them at Sports Guernsey as there may be the possibility of funding through that body,’ he said.
* WHAT are your views and ideas about Guernsey having a town-front mile?
Send your letters to the sports desk mailbag or email newsroom@guernsey-press.com
Article posted on 1st May, 2007 - 12.00am
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