From The SA Road Runners Club

2008 will see the 27th running of The Barossa Half Marathon.

HISTORY
The Barossa Half Marathon Committee existed primarily for the purpose of organising and presenting the annual Barossa Half Marathon and Fun Runs.

The run, originally 17km, started in 1982, sponsored by the Kaiser Stuhl Winery. The local Apex club took over the events in 1985 and the event was changed to the half marathon distance of 21.1km. 

The Barossa Runners Club took over in 1989 with local runners organising and participating in the race. The Runners Club changed the course in 1992 to start and finish at the Barossa Recreation Centre, Tanunda, to provide a safer and faster course for the runners.

In 1993 the Runners Club was awarded the right to incorporate the Athletics SA State Half Marathon Championships in the event which has retained the championship ever since. The course has been measured to International Amateur Athletic Federation / Athletics Australia standards allowing runners to gain a place in the national rankings.

In 1995 the programme was expanded to include 5.5km and 10km events, allowing further participation by a wider range of runners and walkers. The events are increasingly popular with walkers and their families.

In 1996 the Barossa Half Marathon Committee became the new organisers of the events and continue to this day. They have continued their predecessors' policy of awarding medallions to place getters in numerous age group categories, sponsor's bags to all finishers and random draw prizes. Additionally in 1999 a Barossa Legends Group Award (participants completing five and ten events) was introduced to encourage continuing participation by half marathon runners and walkers. The participants receive a suitably inscribed plaque, certificate and a bottle of local wine.

In 2005 The SA Road Runners Club became event managers for the Barossa Half and have continued this involvement to the present day.  The club is keen to continue the good work done by The Barossa Half Marathon Committee.


COMMUNITY BENEFITS

It is estimated that during the 26 years that the events have been held, well over 5,000 competitors have participated. During the past few years an average of 250 runners and walkers and their families from all over South Australia and interstate have stayed in the Barossa to enjoy the local hospitality and events including celebrity dinners featuring Australian Olympians namely Steve Moneghetti and David Fitzsimons. Steve Moneghetti and his family made a return visit to the Barossa in 2001 and Steve and Michael Flynn, High Performance Manager Australian Cycling Federation were guest speakers at a sell-out dinner on the Saturday night prior to the runs/walks.

The events are strongly supported by local businesses whose products are promoted by the SA Road Runners Club through advertising on entry forms, finishers certificates, race numbers, internet, local and state radio, local newspapers, national running magazine, Barossa Wine & Tourism Publications, Tourism SA Calendar, Athletics Australia and Athletics SA Calendars.


The Community has benefited by the events since 1987 by donations to non profit organisations who assist with the conducting of the runs/walks and well being of the participants on the day. These organisations have included; Nuriootpa Scouting Group, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Barossa Division), Australian Citizens Radio Monitors, Barossa Little Athletics, Barossa Out of School Hours Care and Barossa Recreation Centre. To date over $16,000 has been donated to these very worthy groups.

DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS

This year the SA Road Runners Club has decided this year to support Camp Quality as its major beneficiary as it has for the last few years.

SUMMARY

The events have attained a reputation as the best rural running and walking events in South Australia, because of the excellent facilities and professional organisation and it is believed to be the oldest surviving country running event in South Australia. This reputation has attracted other events such as the 1999 Australian Masters Games Half Marathon and the 2000 Oceania Games Half Marathon to the Barossa Valley.


The events have fostered the careers of many leading State athletes and encouraged the general public to participate, as runners or walkers. Local businesses have benefited over the past 26 years by the influx to the region by participants and their families and local community organisations have received generous donations for their assistance.