Next race day is Sunday 21 January 2024, start time 10:30am. Entries 1 October, until full.
Our race is back and this one is our 40th! We’re now fully settled into our fantastic new club house at Helsby Sports Club, Callender Way and look forward to welcoming you back to join the party.
Please note the cancellation policy on the Nifty site.
Next race day is Sunday 21 January 2024 start time 10:30am. Help make it a special one!
- Read the race entry details page for race rules and conditions — do this before entering.
- Decide if you want a souvenir race running top. We are again running a competition with local schools for the artwork design. Last year’s was a cracker, so high hopes for another high standard of entry!
- Have a look at the route map here.
- When you’ve done this, enter on the Nifty Entries (and check the cancellation policy).
- Doing this you confirm you’ve read the race entry details page and agree to the conditions.
- Any questions, use this email address (preferred). But please try and answer your own question if you can — many queries are routine and you might get a quicker answer by reading the website. Not that we don’t want to help you understand! Thank you for supporting this race and enjoy your run! Have you thought about joining our club?
Why four villages?
We are thrilled to announce that Essar Four Villages Half Marathon has won 1st place in the Half Marathons North category of the Challenge Awards presented by Runners World and powered by Let’s Do This. The awards aims to recognise the best challenge events, organisation, charities, communities and individuals over the 2018/19 season. For more information see the Let’s Do This press winners announcement.
You said so – that’s why 🙂
Car sharing
Please help us make this the greenest half marathon around! We love running and racing and meeting up with like-minded folk but also recognise we’re contributing in our own small way to congestion and emissions. Our previous car share website has wound down, but we encourage to find and share lifts, eg via your Facebook, Instagram, club, etc. If anyone’s used a car share service that works well, let us know and we’ll check them out.
Maps and resources
2022 start area – we have a new venue! [JPG, 123KB]
2022 GPX file, with updated turns at miles 1,8&10 [GPX, 22KB]
Map with height profile, direction arrows and GPX above [PDF, 2MB]
2022 residents letter – road closures [PDF, 1MB]
2022 residents letter – road closures map [PDF, 9MB]
www.bedandbreakfasts.co.uk/Cheshire/Frodsham/ — local accommodation search
Race map and parking
Parking information on race parking in your race pack.
- Travelling from the east please park at Helsby High School (WA6 0HY) – junction 12 M56, through Frodsham on A56. Coaches to transport you to the start and back to the high school after the race.
- From the west and Wirral on M56 please park at Essar Induction centre (junction 14 M56, first left onto A5117 towards Elton, turn right at second set of traffic lights into Pool Lane, Induction Centre car park is on the left). Coaches to transport you to the start and back to the car park after the race. Toilets and a hot drinks machine at the Induction centre car park.
- Please don’t park on residential streets around Helsby, especially on The Rock. There will be a team of parking marshals on the streets who will be able to direct you if you are unsure where to park. Look out for the yellow marshal bibs!
There’s an updated race route map, including the new variations to the course from 2022 (new start, mile 1, 8, 10). If you know the older course and want to recce the change, the biggest change is Well Lane around mile 8.
Finish area
Medals and water will be handed out in the funnel area by our volunteers. The funnel will take runners through the yard and on to the field, where you can meet family and friends and visit the attractions the school is putting on. The field is the main area where runners can meet your friends and family after the race. There will be food and hot/cold drinks on the school field – please support our friends from the school selling teas, cakes, bacon butties, etc. Spectators are able to walk through the school yard to see the finish on Denbigh Close, but access is through a narrow gate so please be patient when busy. Please follow marshal guidance in the finish area and stay off the lawns of our patient neighbours!
Race running tops
This year we’re running a competition with the local schools we pass on the race route and those nearby, to design the artwork for the T-shirts. We’re trying to do our bit to engage the next generation of runners and hope you’ll support this. T-shirts are collected on race day from race HQ. Come early to avoid the queue and get ready for your race! If you didn’t pre-order, we’ll also have stock for sale on race day.
Your email
Please be careful adding your email to your entry — it is our primary way of contacting you with any late-breaking news. We will not pass your address on without permission. You’ll receive race information, your number and chip in the post early in the New Year. We’ll also send details on your t-shirt, if you ordered one.
Certified accurate course
Race certified and licensed. Adjusted and remeasured for 2022.
Credits
Huge thanks to our regular headline sponsor of Essar UK and Asics, another long-term supporter. We’re also grateful to the team at Running Bear, friends of the race for many years, together with Mick Hall Photos, and Addhire for their most excellent van loan. Without their help this race either wouldn’t happen or would cost you a lot more!
As well as giving you a great race, we also support a number of local charities from the money raised. Please take a look to the groups that benefit from your efforts. We’d like to thank in advance all the volunteers, helpers, marshals, water-carriers, transport people, commercial partners, our photographer, the good folk of Helsby and surrounding villages, and everyone else who makes this special event possible.