2021 Bath Half Marathon postponed
The 2021 Bath Half Marathon has been moved from March to September
Next year's Bath Half Marathon has been postponed because of coronavirus.
It was due to take place in March but will now go ahead on the 5th of September.
The organisers Running High Events posted a statement online today (24/09) announcing the news.
“Since the government lifted restrictions on outdoor participation sports events such as the Bath Half Marathon in July we have been working with partners locally and across the UK to develop COVID-Secure and flexible plans for the delivery of next year’s race," it reads.
"These plans include flexibility to anticipate a number of different possible scenarios, and to satisfy central government, governing body (UK Athletics) and Bath & North Somerset council’s published COVID guidelines for events...
“In starting the process of discussing our event plans with Bath & North East Somerset Council we have now been advised by their public health and public safety teams that in the current situation, with rising cases and local restrictions being introduced across the UK, regardless of the event being permitted by government and being COVID-Secure, the council do not feel it is appropriate to consider proposals for a large public event in the Spring, and neither is the council in a position to consider our proposals as their resources are currently stretched managing community outbreaks and compliance in the hospitality sector”.
Running High Events say the Council's advice is that going ahead with the event in early 2021 would be too "risky".
"The safety of our participants, staff, volunteer groups and our local community remains our number one priority, and we always follow council advice," the statement continues.
This year's Bath Half did go ahead as planned back on March 15, but that decision sparked widespread criticism at the time with many deciding not to run in protest.
Only around half of the entrants turned up amid fears they could catch COVID-19 in the crowds.
Running High Events did not postpone that event despite calls to do so, claiming the day before the event that it was too late to call it off.
The UK went into full lockdown a week later.