THE countdown to this year's Poole Festival of Running - one of the biggest running events in the south - began with the announcement of new sponsors for its 26th anniversary.

The festival, which starts and finishes in Poole Park on Sunday, June 3, is expected to attract 2,400 finishers of all abilities, ranging from a handful of international runners to youngsters in the minithon event, which attracts school teams and sporting clubs every year.

This year's sponsors are Coles Millers and Atlantic Enterprise UK, who are taking over from Goadsby.

Both sponsors attended the official launch at Lockyers School playing fields this week, alongside race organiser Mike Towner.

Simon Steele-Williams, partner at Coles Miller solicitors, said: "We take great pride in sponsoring local and national charitable events and the Poole Festival of Running is no exception. It is an excellent event, which brings so many in the local community together in support of a worthwhile cause. We wish all those competing the best of luck."

Spencer Phillips, registered manager of Atlantic Enterprise UK, said: "We have provided specialist healthcare to the local community for over 15 years, so it is fitting that we have the opportunity to sponsor an event which combines the health benefits of running with fundraising for Julia's House charity, the children's hospice."

Entry forms can be found at local sports centres and Julia's House or obtained from Poole Runners at poolerunners@freeuk. com. Postal entries close on May 20, but entries for the 10km race are expected to fill weeks before that date.

The cost to enter will be £4 for the minithon, the same as the Jog for Julia's 5km race, while the 10km event will be £8 for club runners and £10 for non-club runners.

Last year's Poole Festival of Running attracted a top class field for the men's and women's 10km, including European silver medallist Haley Yelling and Zimbabwean international Williard Chinhanhu.

Mr Towner said: "We will be posting entries to all of last year's competitors, except for members of local running clubs who can enter through their clubs."

He added: "We are going to increase the capacity for the 5km race to around 400 people maximum.

"This will be more of a fun run rather than for serious club runners and everyone who enters will be raising money for Julia's House."

The results and names of all finishers will appear in the Daily Echo on the Tuesday after the event.