The 57th Isle of Man Easter Festival of Running gets underway on Good Friday evening in the south of the island.

Almost 500 advance entries have been received and, with excellent weather forecast for Easter weekend, it looks like being another brilliant event.

As ever the festival has attracted hundreds of visiting athletes, largely from university running clubs - guaranteeing a great atmosphere, lots of colour and some highly-competitive racing. Entries are still available on the days of the individual races, with the minimum age for all the races being 15 years on the day.

For the first time in the event’s history, Manx runners took both festival titles last year with Ollie Lockley and Rachael Franklin being the successful athletes.

Both are entered for the full festival again this year and, with a solid block of training completed in Portugal last week, they will be confident of retaining their titles.

The Bushy’s 10km road race opens the festival on Friday evening, with the men’s and women’s races starting together at 6.45pm from the breakwater at Port Erin.

Close to 500 competitors are expected to take part in the race which is run on a picturesque course that takes in part of the coastal footpath at Gansey and then Port St Mary high street before returning via Truggan Road to finish at the site of the former Marine Biological Station.

Race registration is at Rushen United Football Club on Droghadfayle Road and will be open from 4.15 to 6pm. For locals, race packs can also be collected from Manx Harriers clubhouse this evening (Thursday) between 5.30 and 7pm.

Please note that there will be a road closure in force for vehicles on Port Erin promenade and the lower part of Strand Road from 4pm until no later than 9pm. Car drivers should park in the upper part of the village.

On Saturday afternoon the action moves west with the spectacular Full Factory Peel Hill races starting from outside the House of Manannan on Peel quayside. The men’s race begins at 2.15pm, with the slightly shorter women’s race following 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 walkway. Starting at the Sea Terminal end, the women’s race at 10.30am will be followed by the men’s race at 11.15am.

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. There will be a parking suspension in force on the promenade walkway from 9am until no later than 1pm.

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

For the Friday 10km race, marshals should report to Rushen United FC clubhouse (Croit Lowey) from 5.45pm. Full information on the festival is at www.easterfestival.info/

Isle of Man Easter Festival of Running is supported by IQ-EQ and the IoM Department for Enterprise.

David Griffiths