Announcement: Six Foot Track Marathon & Sydney Striders
27th September 2006
Starting with the 2007 event, the Sydney Striders Running Club will take over the race management activities of the Six Foot Track Marathon.
Kevin Tiller, the current race director since 2001, contacted the club after the 2006 event with a view to securing the long term stability and success of this growing event. "As the event grows larger with each passing year, it places more of a strain on myself and my family, and there is very little backup or succession plan if I were ever to have an accident or if my day job demands that I can't devote the attention required to put on the event - between December and March it is almost a full time role for me. In recent years most of the administrative and organisational help has come from my friends at the Sydney Striders of which I have been a member for more than 15 years. It seemed like a logical step as Striders are able to provide experience and other resources to help in 2007 and beyond".
David Bray, president of Sydney Striders said that the club committee reviewed Kevin's proposal and decided to put it to the club members to review and comment, with the overwhelming response that the club should assist in seeing the race continue - it is currently the largest individual off road trail race in Australia and the 5th largest marathon. "The club's members were very passionate to keep the race not only alive but growing - already the race is a cornerstone in the Club's Super Series of running events, our 110 members were about 12% of the total field of 800 this year. The club has also been building its monthly 10km race series into a well-oiled machine attracting 200-300 runners each race, and has justly earned a reputation for putting on accurate, safe and well-managed events. We are pleased that Kevin chose the Striders instead of seeking out the other event promoters in the region - we are very keen to see the event not only thrive, but still keep the same friendly atmosphere where runners are treated as names and faces and not just numbers".
A key part of the arrangement is that Kevin Tiller will remain as race director for 2007 and 2008 to ensure that the race still proceed smoothly. "It is planned that the runners will not notice any real changes, other than even better attention to detail and smoothing out a few rough edges" Kevin says "It is a testament to the previous race directors, Ian Hutchison and Chris Stephenson that the race has grown, eventually after 23 years, to a point where one person just cannot continue to organise the event by themselves and with a few mates or family helping".
It is also important to note that the race's relationship with the Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service will remain unchanged. The Sydney Striders will continue to operate the race as a fundraiser for the Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service, as today and the Rural Fire Service will continue to provide the critical race day aid stations, communications and logistics. The Six Foot Track Marathon is, and will continue to be, conducted as a non-profit event with all surplus funds being handed over to the Rural Fire Service. This year's event saw a record year with over $30,000 being raised.
Any further queries, please contact Kevin Tiller via www.sixfoot.com or David Bray via www.sydneystriders.org.au