The annual council run Enniskillen 10k race will not go ahead this year and doubt remains as to whether it may come back at all due to falling numbers.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council confirmed the news in a statement, which said that participants in the race had almost halved by the last race before the pandemic.
The council has opted to support smaller events run by clubs and community groups rather than organising its own event.
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The number of participants in the race had fallen from a peak of 1,300 participants to just 700 in 2019.
“The Enniskillen 10k was first organised by the Council in 2006 and, at that time, was one of the first 10k events in the area,” a spokesperson for the council said.
“Reaching a peak of nearly 1,300 participants in 2009, the event has experienced a year on year decline in popularity dropping to under 700 participants in 2019 - the last time it was delivered pre-pandemic.
“The reasons for this drop are multifaceted with the significant contributing factor being the growth in the number of organised runs delivered by clubs and community groups; a trend that the Council welcomes.”
The spokesperson also said it had experienced difficulty with finding a safe and accessible route for the running event.
“Along with the dropping numbers, the Council has experienced increasing difficulties in finding a safe and accessible route that would satisfy competitive and recreational runners as well as disabled participants and has been faced with ever rising delivery costs.
“Staff and Councillors considered the facts and the options and concluded that the most appropriate and beneficial approach would be to support and enable clubs and community organisations to develop and enhance their offering.
“The Council will, however, continue to actively explore possibilities for organised runs and races in the district and is currently scoping the possibilities for half-marathon, triathlon or other endurance events.”
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