The Great East Run, now in its ninth year, will take place on Sunday, February 17 over a 20km rural road course in the Bungay area.Since its inception, Black Dog Running Club captain John Wharton and course director Nigel Edge have been involved in increasing both the size and prestige of this race to the size and Gold Grade status it now holds.

The Great East Run, now in its ninth year, will take place on Sunday, February 17 over a 20km rural road course in the Bungay area.

Since its inception, Black Dog Running Club captain John Wharton and course director Nigel Edge have been involved in increasing both the size and prestige of this race to the size and Gold Grade status it now holds.

The organising committee thought that the best way of expressing their thanks for the last eight years of hard work in race preparation was to make the two of them run the course that they devised, and have given them race numbers one and 700.

This year the title sponsors are Elgood's Brewery who are giving a bottle of their Black Dog beer to all finishers, who will also receive a medal and a goody bag.

Among other local businesses who are supporting the race are B1st Sports and Leisure shop in Beccles and ASDA.

Race entries are flooding in and the event organisers Bungay Black Dog Running Club have imposed a race entry limit of 700 runners. There are expectations that this will be reached in advance of race day.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the event website www.greateastrun.org.uk