Around the Bay Road Race

Last updated

Around the Bay Road Race
DateLate March
Location Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Event type Road
Distance30K, [a] 5K, 10K, 15K
Primary sponsor CN
Beneficiary St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation
Established1894;131 years ago (1894)
Course recordsMen (1:32:22) Alene Reta
Women (1:44:40) Lanni Marchant
Official site bayrace.com
Winner Jim Duffy (1912) on the bridge over Burlington Canal. AroundtheBay.jpg
Winner Jim Duffy (1912) on the bridge over Burlington Canal.

The Around the Bay Road Race (ATB) is a long distance road race annually in Hamilton, Ontario. The event features a 30 kilometer race, [a] a 5 kilometer race, a 10 kilometer race, a 15 kilometer race, and virtual races. [3] First held in 1894, it is the oldest long distance road race in North America. [4]

Contents

Since it began, the race has been held every year except for 1917 to 1919 (due to World War I), 1925 to 1935, 1962 (due to construction), and 2020 and 2021 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). [4] [5] [6]

History

The Hamilton Herald Newspaper and cigar store owner "Billy" Carroll, originated and sponsored the "Herald Road Race", the first Around the Bay Road Race, run on Christmas Day, 1894. Thirteen racers ran the 19 mile and 168 yard course around Hamilton Harbour. Billy Marshall won the race and was awarded a $25 silver cup and some boxes of cigars. [4] [7] [8]

In the early 20th century, Jack Caffery and William Sherring battled it out and won two "Bay" races each. Famed Canadian-Onondaga runner Tom Longboat also took the first major victory of his career here, in 1906. [8]

Scotty Rankine won a record seven races in the 1930s and 1940s, while Peter Maher won his fifth Bay race in 1996, tying the record of local Gord Dickson, who had five wins in the late 1950s. [8]

In 1967, Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVIC) renamed its junior version of the annual Billy Sherring Around the Bay Road Race, to "The Ivan Miller Memorial", in recognition of journalist Ivan Miller's years of promoting the race. [9]

Women were first allowed to enter in 1979. [4]

In 2005, the ATB partnered with St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation and, for the first time, became a fundraising event. [10]

Recent history

2020

In February 2020, race organizers announced that the 30k race route would change to exclude the signature trek up the Valley Inn Road hill after the city of Hamilton closed the road's pedestrian bridge due to safety concerns. [11] This ultimately didn't matter as, on March 13, the race was cancelled due to the rapidly progressing COVID-19 pandemic. [12]

2021

In 2021, the ATB held a virtual race in lieu of the regular in-person event due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to ATB's 5k and 30k race distance, the virtual race included 2k, 10k, and 15k race distances as well as The Hammer challenge that honoured runners who completed all five race distances. [13]

2022

The ATB returned to in-person racing in 2022 following two years of COVID-19 related restrictions. The 30k race featured 3,362 participants and the 5k race 777 participants. The race raised $275,000 for the St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation. [14] [15]

Construction work on the Valley Inn Road bridge was completed less than a month before race day, allowing for the road's iconic Heartbreak Hill to be included in the 30k race route. [16] [17] [18]

2023

The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge, historically the ATB's 15-kilometre mark, was closed on January 5 for major maintenance and scheduled to reopen on March 20, less than a week before race day. [19] [20] The bridge did reopen on March 20 as scheduled, allowing the race to proceed. [21]

Race day was March 26 with more than six thousand participants. [22] The men's 5k race had an unusual finish as several leading runners took a wrong turn onto Queen Street, missing out on their chance to win the race. [23]

2024

Due to upcoming major renovations to FirstOntario Centre, race organizers announced that the start and finish for the 2024 race would move from FirstOntario Centre to Tim Hortons Field. [1] The move was later confirmed after the FirstOntario Centre renovations were later rescheduled to begin after race day. [24] The change in venue required changes to be made to the race routes, resulting in the 30k race being extended to a 34k race. [25] This modified route was later changed just days before the race when a sinkhole unexpectedly opened on Burlington's North Shore Boulevard, resulting in a final race distance to 35.4k. [2] The event also featured 5k, 10k, 15k, and virtual races. [26]

Race

For years, races started on York Boulevard, one block west of the TD Coliseum, and finished inside the arena. Due to upcoming major renovations to TD Coliseum, the start and finish for the 2024 race moved to Tim Hortons Field. [1]

The 30 kilometre race is also known as the Billy Sherring Memorial Road Race. [27] It is also called the 30K Around The Bay. On March 29, 2007, over 9,000 participants crossed the finish line. [28]

Winners

Key:  Course record

30k

YearMen's winnerTime (h:m:s)Women's winnerTime (h:m:s)Rf.
2024Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Phil Parrot-Migas (CAN)1:51:13Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rachel Hannah (CAN)2:10:57 [a]
2023Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blair Morgan (CAN)1:37:46Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sasha Gollish (CAN)1:48:03
2022Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin Coffey (CAN)1:40:10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Victoria Coates (CAN)1:50:01 [8]
2021Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ahmed Jouar (CAN)1:50:06Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kathleen Lawrence (CAN)2:02:48
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5]
2019Flag of Kenya.svg Daniel Kemoi (KEN)1:32:57Flag of Ethiopia.svg Mengistu Emebet (ETH)1:45:56 [8]
2018Flag of Kenya.svg Haron Kiptoo Sirma (KEN)1:35:11Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Dayna Pidhoresky  (CAN)1:49:39
2017Flag of Kenya.svg Panuel Mkungo (KEN)1:34:51Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dayna Pidhoresky (CAN)1:47:27
2016Flag of Kenya.svg Paul Kimugal (KEN)1:35:17Flag of Kenya.svg Risper Gesabwa (KEN)1:47:38
2015Flag of Kenya.svg Paul Kimugal (KEN)1:33:48Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dayna Pidhoresky (CAN)1:50:47
2014Flag of Kenya.svg Paul Kimugal (KEN)1:35:35Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Krista DuChene  (CAN)1:47:14
2013Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Terence Attema (CAN)1:35:45Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Lanni Marchant  (CAN)1:44:40
2012Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Reid Coolsaet  (CAN)1:33:21Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Krista DuChene (CAN)1:47:04
2011Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Derek Nakluski (CAN)1:37:15Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dayna Pidhoresky (CAN)1:50:45
2010Flag of Ethiopia.svg Alene Reta (ETH)1:32:22Flag of Kenya.svg Lucy Njeri Muhami (KEN)1:48:59
2009Flag of Kenya.svg Thomas Omwenga (KEN)1:35:29Flag of Kenya.svg Lucy Ngeri (KEN)1:50:26
2008Flag of Ethiopia.svg Alene Reta (ETH)1:33:06Flag of Kenya.svg Lucy Ngeri (KEN)1:48:28
2007Flag of Kenya.svg Simon Njorge (KEN)1:32:50Flag of Kenya.svg Magdelene Makunzi (KEN)1:46:51
2006Nourddine Betchim1:37:38Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kate MacNamara (CAN)1:55:10
2005Flag of Kenya.svg Joseph Ndritu (KEN)1:38:46Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kate MacNamara (CAN)1:58:06
2004Mustapha Bennacer1:33:28Flag of Russia.svg  Lioudmila Kortchaguina  (RUS)1:46:04
2003Joseph Nsengiyumva1:35:02Flag of Russia.svg Lioudmila Kortchaguina (RUS)1:52:50
2002Flag of Kenya.svg Joseph Ndritu (KEN)1:33:13Flag of Russia.svg Lioudmila Kortchaguina (RUS)1:46:18
2001Flag of Kenya.svg Joseph Ndritu (KEN)1:36:39Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Elizabeth Ruel (CAN)1:54:20
2000Flag of Kenya.svg Joseph Ndritu (KEN)1:32:53Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Veronique Vandersmissen (CAN)1:52:33
1999Paul Aufdemberge1:36:31May Allison1:52:37
1998Sean Wade1:34:43Danuta Bartoszek1:53:52
1997Paul Mbugua1:35:35Katie Dosser1:56:22
1996Peter Maher1:35:41Cindy New1:53:42
1995Mike McGowan1:36:09Kim Webb1:49:17
1994Sammy Nyangincha1:32:55May Allison1:50:54
1993Dave O’Keefe1:38:22Lizanne Bussieres1:47:03
1992Clive Hamilton1:40:26Veronique Marot1:54:42
1991Peter Maher1:33:00Veronique Marot1:48:52
1990Peter Maher1:35:54Laura Konantz1:54:16
1989Peter Maher1:34:12Dorothy Goertzen1:58:53
1988Paul Waldie1:39:21Laura Konantz1:58:40
1987Peter Maher1:34:02 Susan Stone 1:51:37
1986Bob Slipp1:39:53Jennifer Ditchfield1:55:03
1985Roger Martindill1:34:22Susan Stone1:53:23
1984Roger Martindill1:33:53Anne-Marie Malone1:46:29
1983Mike Dyon1:34:15Dorothy Goertzen1:53:45
1982Dave Edge1:34:50Christine Keaney2:02:02

The 30 kilometre course was certified in 1982. Prior to then, the race was contested over a few different distances. [4]

5k

YearMen's winnerTime (m:s)Women's winnerTime (m:s)Rf.
2019Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Drover (CAN)15:10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gladys Tarus (CAN)17:38 [29]
2018Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ross Proudfoot (CAN)14:37Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gladys Tarus (CAN)17:47
2017Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ross Proudfoot (CAN)14:44Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kate Van Buskirk (CAN)16:14
2016Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Joshua Bolton (CAN)15:04Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Victoria Coates (CAN)17:08
2015Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Genest (CAN)14:35.2Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Genevieve Lalonde (CAN)16:25.9
2014Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Peter Corrigan (CAN)14:29.5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kate Van Buskirk (CAN)16:18.7
2013Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Peter Corrigan (CAN)14:41.5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chantelle Groenewoud (CAN)17:02.9
2012Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alexander Hinton (CAN)14:50.4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chantelle Groenewoud (CAN)16:45.0
2011Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Taylor Milne (CAN)14:26.4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lydia Willemse (CAN)16:58.6
2010Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Taylor Milne (CAN)14:10.9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Megan Brown (CAN)16:46.1
2009Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rob Watson (CAN)14:16.6Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lanni Marchant (CAN)17:19.8
2008Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rob Watson (CAN)14:12.9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tara Johnson (CAN)18:48.4
2007Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrew Smith (CAN)14:32.8Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Megan Brown (CAN)16:34.1
2006Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Eric Morrison (CAN)15:17.1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Shari Boyle-Hopkins (CAN)18:13.9
2005Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zeljko Sabol (CAN)15:36.3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Megan Brown (CAN)17:50.4
2004Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Calvin Staples (CAN)14:50.3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Diane Nukuri (CAN)17:00.1
2003Flag of Kenya.svg Henry Githuka (KEN)14:31Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nicole Stevenson (CAN)16:41
2002Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Joseph Nsengiyumva (CAN)14:40Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Krestena Sullivan (CAN)17:12
2001Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Stephane Gamache (CAN)15:19Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tambra Dunn (CAN)17:01
2000Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Guy Schultz (CAN)15:15Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kim Webb (CAN)16:59
1999Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Guy Schultz (CAN)14:50Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Danuta Bartosek (CAN)16:33
1998Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dave Lorne (CAN)15:13Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Natalie Cote (CAN)16:48
1997Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dave Lorne (CAN)14:49Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrea Johnson (CAN)17:10
1996Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rich Tremain (CAN)14:34Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paula Schnurr (CAN)16:01
1995Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Fraser Bertram (CAN)14:40Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Liz Jones (CAN)16:50
1994Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Richard Charette (CAN)14:24Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Elizabeth Jones (CAN)16:34
1993Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Jackson (CAN)15:42Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Missy McCleary (CAN)17:39

Top fundraisers

Top fundraisers of the event since 2005. [10] [30]
YearParticipantFunds raised
2008Ted Michaels/ Connie Smith$60,000
2007Ron Foxcroft$55,000
2006Brian Mullan (Hamilton Police Chief)$50,000
2005 Dave Andreychuk $30,000

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The 2024 race featured a modified 35.4km race route due to renovations at TD Coliseum and a sinkhole that opened along the originally planned route. [1] [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mitchell, Don (February 22, 2023) [Originally posted February 21, 2023]. "Hamilton's Around the Bay road race to change in 2024 amid downtown arena development". Global News . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Petropoulos, Joanna (March 23, 2024) [Originally posted March 25, 2024]. "Unexpected change extends Around The Bay race once again". CHCH . Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  3. "Registration Details and Fees". Around the Bay Road Race. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "125 years running: Here are some fast facts about the Around the Bay Road Race". CBC News. March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Radley, Scott (September 22, 2020). "Hamilton's Around the Bay Road Race cancelled for 2020". The Hamilton Spectator . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. Milton, Steve (February 9, 2021). "Around the Bay organizers add flair as Hamilton road race goes virtual". The Hamilton Spectator . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  7. "Dec. 25, 1894: First Around the Bay Race held". The Hamilton Spectator. September 23, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Around the Bay Road Race". Local History & Archives. Hamilton Public Library . Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  9. Hanley, Bob (September 26, 1967). "About Many Things". The Hamilton Spectator . p. 10.
  10. 1 2 "Around the Bay Road Race- Since 1894". The Hamilton Spectator. March 22, 2007. pp. AB1.
  11. Hristova, Bobby (February 10, 2020). "'We're disappointed:' Valley Inn Road hill dropped from 2020 Around the Bay race". CBC News . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  12. Kelly, Madeleine (March 13, 2020). "Around the Bay cancelled for March 2020". Canadian Running Magazine. Gripped Publishing. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  13. Milton, Steve (February 9, 2021). "Around the Bay organizers add flair as Hamilton road race goes virtual". The Hamilton Spectator . Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  14. Mann, Ken (July 12, 2023) [Originally posted March 27, 2022]. "Around the Bay runners battle cold, blustery conditions". Global News . 900 CHML . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  15. Alwahaidi, Keena (March 28, 2022). "'It was really special': What winning Around the Bay means to Hamilton runner Victoria Coates". CBC News . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  16. Vienneau, Eric (March 15, 2022) [Originally posted March 14, 2022]. "Around the Bay Road Race returns in-person after two years of virtual races". CHCH News . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  17. Radley, Scott (March 16, 2022). "Heartbreak Hill will once again be part of Around the Bay". The Hamilton Spectator . Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  18. Urciuoli, Anthony (March 18, 2022). "Hamilton's Valley Inn pedestrian bridge restored in time for Around the Bay Race". insauga. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  19. "Construction will close Burlington Canal lift bridge until March". The Hamilton Spectator . December 26, 2022. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  20. To, Michael (January 4, 2023). "Burlington Canal Lift Bridge closed Jan. 5 until late March". CBC News . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  21. Hristova, Bobby (March 21, 2023). "Burlington Canal Lift Bridge reopens after 2 months of maintenance work". CBC News . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  22. Zamperin, Rick (March 28, 2023) [Originally posted March 26, 2023]. "Blair Morgan and Sasha Gollish win 30k Around the Bay Road Race". Global News . 900 CHML . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  23. Radley, Scott (March 28, 2023). "Wrong turn costs runner Around the Bay crown". The Hamilton Spectator . Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  24. Mitchell, Don (September 18, 2023). "Hamilton's Around the Bay sticks with Tim Horton's Field despite renovation shift". Global News . Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  25. Radley, Scott (January 4, 2024). "Big changes coming to Around the Bay race". The Hamilton Spectator . Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  26. "Everything you need to know about Around the Bay". Metroland . The Hamilton Spectator. March 19, 2024. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  27. "Around the bay Road Race, (Official Site)". Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  28. "Around the Bay Road Race will close streets today". The Hamilton Spectator. March 29, 2007.
  29. "5k Top Five". Around the Bay Road Race. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  30. "Bay Race registration sets torrid pace". The Hamilton Spectator. November 27, 2007.

Further reading