Hastings Half Marathon: Decision on 2021 race not taken lightly

The 2021 half marathon was set to welcome back the community after a difficult year. But for the second year running it has been cancelled, with organisers feeling that ongoing Covid lockdown rules would make it impossible to stage.

There were plans in place to put on a stripped-down event, but Hastings Borough Council has announced all big events planned up to April should not take place.

Race director Eric Hardwick said such decisions ‘are not taken lightly’.

He said: “The organisers (Hastings Lions Club), have been putting on the event for the past 37 years for the community, and for entrants to use the event as a springboard to raise monies for many needy causes and charities. Approximately £150,000 is raised every year that is notified, but it is estimated that this figure could be ten times higher.

“The Lions Club normally distributes over £50,000 every year to needy causes but will not be able in the coming year to help everyone who needs help. But it will do the best it can.”

There was potential for the event to be rescheduled until the autumn but the road race schedule is very full and there were worries it would be too close to the 2022 event.

Hardwick said he would rather aim for a ‘back to normal’ event in 2022, welcoming back friends by putting on a good event for everyone.

He urged entrants who had committed themselves to raising money for a particular charity to have a virtual run in their own time then aim for thr big one in 2022.

Entrants from 2020 and 2021 will be automatically entered for the 2022 event, planned for March 20.

Hardwick said: “All money from the event go back into the community. There is no hidden agenda, and no members of the Lions Club receive any payment. We are all volunteers.”