RUNNERS are getting ready to be on their marks for the 24th Sandy 10. It is expected 500 runners will take part in the event on March 25 when proceeds from the race will go towards Keech Cottage Children s Hospice. Competitors will duel over a course from

RUNNERS are getting ready to be on their marks for the 24th Sandy 10.

It is expected 500 runners will take part in the event on March 25 when proceeds from the race will go towards Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.

Competitors will duel over a course from Sandy to Everton village and back and entries are 50 per cent up on last year.

North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt, who joined Biggleswade Athletic Club two weeks ago, is expected to make his first appearance in club colours with Sandy deputy mayor Cllr Colin Osborn also in the line-up and raising money for the Sandy Leprosy Mission.

The start of the event will be in Sunderland Road at 10.30am with Sandy mayor Cllr David Gale firing the starting gun. The two mile fun run starts 15 minutes later. The finishing line for both events will at Sandy Upper School.

"We are expecting entries from all over the country," said race committee member Susan Sutton.

"The limit is 500 competitors and so far we have 120 entries, double what we had at the same period last year.

"This is a very popular event run by Biggleswade AC and we are looking forward to the 25th anniversary of the race next year."

Facilities for changing, refreshments and toilets will be at the race headquarters at Sandy Sports Centre in Sunderland Road.

Cost of entry is £8 for any athletic club members and £10 for everyone else. The fun run is free.

With a top class entry it is hoped the current records might be broken. The men's record is held by Eric Southam of Highgate Harriers whose time of 52:04 has stood since 2001 while the women's record of 60:27 by Danielle Sanderson of Watford Harriers was set in 2004.

Everyone who finishes the event will get a T-shirt, a small memento and an energy restoring crunchy bar supplied by Jordan's Cereals of Biggleswade.

Entries for the race can be obtained from Stuart Galloway at 8 The Avenue, Sandy, Beds, SG19 1ER or www.biggleswadeac.org.uk or www.runnersworld.co.uk