EASTLEIGH 10K HISTORY

The race first saw the light of day in March 1985; being the brainchild of Draper Tools, the Mayor of Eastleigh and Christine and Martin Benning of Southampton City AC.

The race was designed to encourage more runners during the peak of the first jogging boom, while raising money for the Mayor of Eastleigh’s charities.

This unique partnership between club and borough continued for seven years, with the vital sponsorship support from Draper Tools. There was a switch in Race Director in 1987, Malcolm Price picking up the reins from the Bennings, and in 2001 Southampton Running Club became the club connection in the partnership.

In 1992, B&Q took over the sponsorship of the race, which now ranked in the top 50 races in the UK every year. By then, the entry was hitting full capacity every year. This year also saw the introduction of the under 12s 2km fun run, initially organised by Southampton City AC, then Eastleigh Running Club and subsequently Fortis Sports and Social Club. This event proved so popular that it is now split into two sections with under 8s and under 12s sharing the 800 entries.

At various times the Eastleigh 10K has formed a part of the Hampshire Road Race League and the Hampshire County Championships. In 1998, the Eastleigh 10K hosted the British Veterans Road Championships and, in 2004, the UK Inter Area Championships and the South of England AA Championships.

In 2008, the Eastleigh 10K will once more host the Hampshire County 10K Championships as well as being Race 8 of the Hampshire Road Race League. An exciting development will be the introduction of chip timing, allowing the race entry limit to be lifted over the 1500 barrier or the first time in its history. For 2008, the race sees Eryl Penney and Malcolm Price taking an advisory role after 20 years at the helm, with David Blackman stepping into the Director’s seat.