ARGUABLY York's biggest mass participation sporting event takes place on Sunday - the Brass Monkey Half Marathon.

Organisers Knavesmire Harriers Running Club have been able to accept 1,200 entries this year, up from 1,000 over the last few years.

The race, now 20 years old and based at York Racecourse, is so popular that those spaces were filled by runners from all over Britain within 14 days of the entry forms being available. Indeed, one form was sent by courier from Sydney, Australia, by a female athlete from Harrogate who was obviously keen to secure her place.

More than 100 Harriers club members will be marshalling the race and helping out in other ways to make it another success.

Race secretary Malcolm Fawcett said: "The Harriers see the event as a way of contributing something back to the running scene for all the events that members attend throughout the running year."

He added: "With competitive fields in both men's and ladies' sections, Knavesmire's treasurer, Graeme Adams, fears he will have to pay out an extra £200 for two new course records."

In the men's race, course record holder Ian Fisher, of Otley AC, who has won the race for the last three years, is likely to be challenged by York-based athlete Darran Bilton, of Leeds City, while in the ladies' section, last year's winner and course record holder Tracey Morris, of Valley Striders, who ran well for Great Britain in the Athens Olympics, could be pushed by Scottish international Hayley Haining, of Kilbarchan AC.

Race directors Tricia Hawkins and Mike Cross have thanked the "tremendous help" they have received in putting the race on from various sources, particularly North Yorkshire Police, the staff at York Racecourse on Knavesmire where the race starts and finishes, and the local "Up and Running" group of specialist shops.

The race does not support any particular charity, but many entrants raise money and awareness for a wide range of local and national charities.

York Acorn Running Club member Andy Heppell is running his 150th half marathon for charity - he has been recognised for this achievement by being allocated race number 150 by the organisers.

Elsewhere, to help get results out as quickly as possible, race numbers have been allocated by gender and age order.

The race begins at 10am, so runners need to be at the start by 9.55am. Police have requested runners not to warm up on public roads.

The course is on public roads which are not closed to traffic but which will be well signed and marshalled.

The route is fast and flat, heading southwards to Bishopthorpe on to Whinny Hills and back to the racecourse via Bishopthorpe.

Prize giving will take place in the County Stand around 12.30pm.

Marvellous milestone

YORK'S Brass Monkey half-marathon on Sunday represents a landmark for Acomb-based runner Andy Heppell, writes Dave Flett.

The York Acorn athlete will be running his 150th half-marathon and will be wearing the number 150 as recognition of his achievement.

Heppell, who has been running for more than 20 years, has completed 18 Great North Runs and ten London Marathons.

He has also crossed the line in half-marathons at Liverpool, Redcar, Lincoln, Leek, Sheffield and Leeds.

York City Supporters Club official Heppell has a best time of one hour 43 minutes over the distance, which he clocked ten years ago in the Brass Monkey.

But he admitted on the eve of the race that he would be happy with a time under two hours just a month before his 50th birthday.

Heppell said: "It gets harder rather than easier the more half-marathons that you run and they seem to take longer and longer."

John Turnbull, Heppell's blind training partner, will also be running in Sunday's race.

Updated: 10:58 Saturday, January 22, 2005