My Forum

I understand what you are saying about the route of the Hull Marathon Martin, and many other similar comments have been made to the clubs. Rest assured that these comments are taken onboard by the clubs and we are unlikely to use the same course if the event continues

Hi Ferret. I attended a forum in September looking at the feasibility of holding a Hull Marathon in future years, with the involvement of the local running clubs. I think it is fair to say that TORO CSC, who organised the 2012 event would not be involved. We are still eagerly awaiting a response from Hull City Council, as to whether they think the event is a feasible proposition. However, it looks unlikely that an event will be held in 2013, because it is too late now to start the organisation from scratch, and fit it into a suitable place in the Marathon calendar. However, it appeared the clubs were keen to continue the event, from 2014 onwards

In my last post, I referred to Mr Jackson's new company as Quantumleap on one occasion. The correct name is Quantumstorm Ltd

I see that Karl Jackson hasn't been completely quiet since the Hull Marathon. He managed to set up a new company, Quantumleap Ltd on 20 April. This is the 5th company he has been involved in since 2008. His list reads as such:-

3XTri Ltd                                 Registered 12/8/2008

Triexperience Ltd                  Registered 10/7/2009     (since dissolved)

Toro CSC Ltd                        Registered 29/7/2010

Yorkshire Marathon Ltd       Registered 20/7/2011

Quantumstorm Ltd               Registered 20/4/2012

Alan - Sorry if i upset you, but as you can imagine, I am still seething by what happened in Hull. When using statistics, generalisations are made but there are always exceptions which are to be applauded. I must say I have never heard a bad word uttered about the Liverpool event.

Going back to the Hull event, the organisers, TORO CSC, announced the event in a blaze of publicity last August, having had no consultation whatsoever with the local clubs, or the local UKA officials. They had no previous experience of organising mass participation events on the public highway. They then started taking entries before a course had been approved, and before a permit had been applied for. At the time they started taking entries, they were not even affiliated to UKA. Every attempt by local clubs and officials to get them to follow the same procedures as everyone else were ignored, and it was also felt the £38 fee for club runners was excessive. TORO claim they received 1400 entries and, along with several sponsors who supported the event, they must have had an income of over £50000.

What did the runners get for this. A race riddled with problems, no mile markers (except one at mile 13), very few marshals, with major junctions relying on PCSO's, the route followed on the day being different from the measured route, resulting in the Certificate of Accuracy being withdrawn, roads which were supposed to be closed and traffic free, being full of mixed runners and traffic, long stretches of the course with no water stations, the lady lying in second place being misdirected, resulting in her only running 23 miles, being awarded with the prize when she "finished", and many of the prizewinners still not having received their prizes, their e-mails and letters to the organisers going unanswered. On top of this, the organiser appears to have gone into hiding, has pulled the plug on all his websites and Facebook page, and has not been heard of for 2 weeks. Even the media can't contact him.

This company has seriously damaged the reputation of road racing in Hull, and has taken a great deal of money in entry fees, without appearing to spend an awful lot on the organisation of the event. Events such as this damage the reputation of the sport, whether put on by clubs or private companies, and whether charging a high or a low entry fee.