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Local runners were given some great news today - the 2010 Great West Run will go ahead. Speculation had been mounting that the 25th anniversary of the event on Sunday May 3rd was going to be the last with race director Pete Ferlie admitting that a switch to a more manageable 10k had been considered. But in response to comments from runners in Exeter and east Devon Ferlie and his team at Ironbridge Runner have pledged to keep the area’s biggest race going. 'The Great West Run will be going ahead next year,' pledged Ferlie. 'Initially we were not sure what was going to happen and I admit that at the end of last year I thought this would be the last race. But we have had such a positive response from runners pleading with us to keep the race going that we just couldn’t stop it. So the show will go on!'

Ferlie and Ironbridge Runner took over the event ten years ago when entries had fallen to 1,000. Since then it has been resurrected and next month’s event was sold out weeks ago with the 3,000 limit having been reached, leaving the race just second to the Plymouth half in terms of size. 'We have also expanded the event to include a 5k race and a schools’ competition which means that we will have 5,000 people taking part in a Great West event during that week,' added Ferlie. 'We are delighted to have built up that level of support, event if it has meant terrific hard work for my team and are grateful for the support of not just the runners of Exeter and east Devon but also the general public who come out to support the runners and give their money to charitable causes. I believe the Great West Run is a now major event in the city’s calendar and hopefully we will all still be going to celebrate the 50th anniversary!'