Manx Harriers’s 2018 Easter Festival of Running gets under way on Friday evening in the south of the island with a 10km road race.

Well over 500 advance entries have been received, promising to make the 56th edition of the festival another truly memorable occasion.

Supported by First Names Group and the Department of Enterprise, the three-day event has enjoyed great success over recent years.

As usual it has attracted hundreds of visiting athletes, mainly from university running clubs, guaranteeing a great atmosphere, lots of colour and some highly competitive racing.

Entries are still available for each day for an additional £2 charge per race. The minimum age for all the races is 15.

The men’s and women’s classes of the Bushy’s 10km road race start together at 6.30pm close to the breakwater on Port Erin promenade.

Around 500 competitors are expected to take on the picturesque course that involves part of the coastal footpath at Gansey and Port St Mary, before returning to the finish at the site of the former Marine Biological Station at the far end of Port Erin prom.

Race registration is at Rushen United Football Club on Droghadfayle Road from 4.15 to 6pm. Race numbers can also be collected from Manx Harriers clubhouse on Thursday evening between 5.30 and 7pm.

On Saturday afternoon the action moves west with the spectacular Full Factory Peel Hill races starting from outside the House of Manannan. The men’s race begins at 2.15pm, with the slightly shorter women’s race at 3.05pm. Registration (only for those who did not compete on Friday) will open at the House of Manannan from 1pm.

The racing concludes on Sunday morning with the Outback 5km road races on Douglas Promenade.

These start at the Sea Terminal end with the women’s race at 10.30am, followed by the men’s at 11.15. Registration will open in the Sea Terminal from 9.30am for those who have not already picked up their festival number in an earlier race.

While there will be some very good visiting athletes taking part, there are high hopes for local success in both the men’s and women’s races. Ollie Lockley is one of three athletes entered who have run sub-30 minutes for 10 kilometres over the past year, one of whom is last year’s champion Mike Christoforou.

The latter ran for Edinburgh University in 2017 but is unattached this time, while Nathan Marsh of Leeds University is a much improved athlete since his previous appearance in 2016. Other men likely to be at the sharp end include James Hoad of Cambridge University and the Manchester University duo of Joe Vis and Adam Sciacca.

Manx Harriers men’s team is likely to comprise Ollie Lockley, Alan Corlett, David Mullarkey and Stephen Garrett, and with the best three to count in each race this team will strongly challenge the best of the visiting squads. Mullarkey will be a leading contender in the under-20 race categories.

The women’s races are also likely to be highly competitive with no clear favourite for the overall title. Rachael Franklin, champion in 2014, has as good a chance as any in all the races and looked in fine form at the latter end of the cross-country season.

She will be challenged by 2013 champion Polly Keen and her Cambridge University team-mate Ruby Woolfe, but also in contention will be Hannah Brown and Vicki Cronin of Manchester University, Beth Garland, Sophie Lee and last year’s Peel Hill race winner Bronwen Jenkinson (all Leeds University).

Locals Karen Shimmin and Sarah Webster should be in the mix, although neither intends to do all three races. As in the men’s events, the Manx Harriers women’s team should be strong with the likes of Gail Griffiths and Laura Dickinson joining forces with Rachael Franklin and Karen Shimmin to challenge the best of the visitors.

If you can help with marshalling duties please email [email protected] or report to the chief marshal near the finish line at least 45 minutes before the start of each race.

Full information on the Festival is at http://www.easterfestival.info/