BRIGHTON marathon runners are fuming after a blunder made the course 620 yards too long – and the leader had his victory snatched away as a result. Red-faced officials confessed to the extra third-mile glitch on the marathon’s website, saying: “We would like to sincerely apologise to participants.” No one realised the botch-up until well […]
BRIGHTON marathon runners are fuming after a blunder made the course 620 yards too long – and the leader had his victory snatched away as a result.
Red-faced officials confessed to the extra third-mile glitch on the marathon’s website, saying: “We would like to sincerely apologise to participants.”
No one realised the botch-up until well after the 7,500 marathon participants had set off on what they thought was a 26.2 mile long route.
It was a blow for race leader Ollie Garrod, who was well clear of rivals after completing the official marathon distance.
But then 200 metres before the lengthened finish line he was overtaken by Neil McClements – who was officially declared the winner.
McClements registered a time of two hours, 33 minutes and 44 seconds, while Garrod crossed the line in second place. Mark Innocenti was placed third.
A ‘frustrated’ Garrod, 28, told the Telegraph: “Basically a cone up near Rottingdean was put too far up the hill and we kind of all knew as we went round – I looked at my watch and thought ‘hang on, these mile-markers are suddenly half a mile out’ and wondered how that happened at such a short distance.”
The accountant said that he had been enjoying a “huge lead” at the 17th mile of “about four minutes. I did lead the race through the marathon finish so if it was on distance [I would have won]…”
Garrod said while he “understood the pressures that volunteers are under, it is frustrating when it is a race as big as Brighton, which is an established course and hasn’t changed really in the best part of ten years”.
The Brighton Argus reported: “Today’s race was more than half a kilometre longer than it should have been.”
We would like to sincerely apologise to our marathon participants that the course on the day has measured 568m too long.
Brighton Marathon organisers
Organisers were slammed on social media, with one man tweeting: “So if the course was 568 metres too long shouldn’t Ollie Garrod be handed the win?
“Yes different factors come into play but Ollie had enough of a lead with 600 metres to go to say he wouldn’t have been caught.
“I think the organisers need to recognise this and change the results.”
Adam Lewis tweeted: “The course was 500+ metres too long so Ollie actually won the Marathon & an extra 300 metres?”
In a very brief “weekend update” on the distance error, organisers said: “We would like to sincerely apologise to our marathon participants that the course on the day has measured 568m too long.
“We are wholly disappointed that this has affected our runners and hope that it hasn’t marred the experience, at what has been a fantastic comeback after event after 18 months [sic].”
Sunday’s event kicked off from Preston Park, and ended beside Brighton Palace Pier.
So if the course was 568 metres too long shouldn’t Ollie Garrod be handed the win?
Twitter
Some participants hit out on social media about their skewed timings as a result of the error.
Katharine Edmonds tweeted: “So relieved to have completed my first (and last!) marathon. I’m sure the extra 568m was what did for my timing.”
‘Mr B’ said: “Marathons are tough enough. This one did feel longer than most… technically I have now run an ultramarathon.”
‘Popkid71’ joked on Twitter: “To be fair they should make this apology after every marathon. 26.2 miles is just ridiculous.”
But there were also plenty of supporters, including James who tweeted: “Brighton Marathon 2021 … you were brilliant as usual (apart from the extra 568 metres, but I don’t mind).
“The support on the course was immense, and having 100s of people yelling your name gives such as boost. See you again next year.”
Two years ago the Sun Online reported on Belfast marathon organisers apologising to runners after “human error” resulted in the course being 503 yards too long.
The 2019 error was mocked on social media, with one man tweeting: “You had one f***ing job.”
Another person blasted on Twitter: “So the Belfast City Marathon was essentially half a mile longer than it should have been.
“The organisers should hang their heads in shame. The amount of training people put for months and that’s what they get. Joke. Shambles.”
