Ipswich's Great East Run and Swim axed by organisers

Ruth Clark has taken part in every edition of the Great East Swim since it started in 2008

Two popular sporting events that would normally attract thousands of participants will no longer go ahead.

The Great Run Company, which organises the Great East Run (GER) half-marathon in Ipswich, said the event was "no longer viable".

It said the John West Great East Swim, held at nearby at Alton Water, had also been axed due to "ongoing challenges with blue-green algae".

Those who had entered the swim, due to be held in June, will be refunded.

The company, which also organises events including the Great North Run on Tyneside, announced "with sadness" that the events would "not take part in 2022 or in the future".

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On the 13.1-mile (21km) run, it said: "Over the past four years, we've worked incredibly hard with our partners to bring a first class half-marathon event to Suffolk.

"From the first firing of the start gun in 2017 to the last finisher crossing the line in 2019, we've enormously enjoyed delivering the Great East Run and seeing thousands achieve their goals and raise significant funds for charity.

"Unfortunately, following the Covid-enforced cancellations in 2020 and 2021, as well as ongoing operational challenges, it is no longer viable for us to stage the event."

The event saw thousands of participants run through Holywells Park, past Ipswich's waterfront, under the Orwell Bridge and finish at Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium.

Kevin Ward, right, pictured taking part in the 2019 Great East Run, said it was "hugely disappointing" it would no longer be held

Regarding the swim, organisers said they had tried to find ways to mitigate the blue-green algae problem and tried to look for alternative locations but "we haven't found a solution to the problem and we can't continue to operate without confidence the event will go ahead".

Ruth Clark, who had taken part in every edition of the swim since 2008, said: "I'm really disappointed, I was really looking forward to doing it again; it's a brilliant event, it's so friendly, it's so well organised, it's just always been a really good event."

The Great East Swim took place at Alton Water near Ipswich

Runner Rick Phillips, from Kesgrave, said it was a "huge shame for the area, clubs and charities alike" that both events had been cancelled.

He said many people had benefitted from getting fit in order to run a half-marathon, and that the cancellation of the event had left "a huge hole in our calendar".

Kevin Ward, also from Kesgrave, who had entered the swim event, said it was "hugely disappointing" that both events had been cancelled.

The 46-year-old, who has taken part in the swim six times and the run twice, said: "It's a massive let-down, given how much people have been training and looking forward to these big events as positive targets to aim for."