The organiser of the London Marathon is set to take over the running of the Bath Half Marathon from 2025, it has been announced.
Photo courtesy of Running High / Bath Half Marathon
London Marathon Events (LME) is taking over as Andrew and Mel Taylor, the current organisers, step down after the 2024 event.
The Bath Half, first held in 1982, is one of the UK’s most prestigious half marathons, the largest sporting and community event in Bath and the largest charity fundraising event in south-west England.
The 2024 event will be taking place on Sunday 17th March.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director for London Marathon Events, said: “The Bath Half is a wonderful event in a beautiful setting.
“We look forward to working with Bath and North East Somerset Council to grow the event over the next five years and inspire activity in local communities and schools. I’d like to pay tribute to the work of Andrew and Mel Taylor for developing the event over the past 25 years.”
Andrew Taylor, co-founder of Running High Events Ltd, organisers of the Bath Half, added: “Mel and I have been honoured to have organised the Bath Half for the last 25 years and we’re proud to have built a platform enabling charities to raise more than £30 million pounds since we took over management of the event in 2000.
“Now is the right time for us to step down and we’re delighted that London Marathon Events will be taking the event forward.
“We’d like to thank our staff, race entrants, charity and corporate partners, contractors, volunteers, council staff and councillors, and above all the community of Bath for their longstanding support for this much-loved event.”
Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “The Bath Half is one of the country’s leading half marathons. We owe a huge thank you to Andrew and Mel Taylor of Running High Events who have managed the race since 2000 and are now handing over the baton.
“I am delighted that Bath Half, which has been so successful, will continue under London Marathon Events.
“Organising a race of this size takes a huge amount of planning and resources and it is really important for the runners taking part and the residents that everything runs like clockwork.
“To have the resources and experience of London Marathon Events at our disposal is just fantastic news for the city. I could not be more pleased. And I look forward to this year’s edition on Sunday 17 March when I will be running and hope to get my 16th finisher’s medal.”
Fundraising for charities will remain central to the Bath Half weekend and Enthuse will continue to be the official online fundraising partner for the event.
The 2025 Bath Half will take place on Sunday 16th March 2025 and entries will open on Event Day in 2024.
London Marathon Events is the organiser of events in running, cycling and swimming including the TCS London Marathon, Ford RideLondon, the Brighton Marathon Weekend, The Big Half, the Vitality London 10,000, the Vitality Westminster Mile, Swim Serpentine and the Royal Parks Half.
