blue hills

Elite & Best for Age Entries


Information about applications for the 2025 Elite and Best for Age entries will be published later in 2024.

Rated by Athletics Weekly as the Fastest Spring Half Marathon, the Bath Half Marathon has long been established as one of the premier events in the UK Road Racing Calendar, with a quality British field and proven PB delivery. At the 2023 Bath Half 24 British men finished under 70 mins and 24 women under 85 mins. What better way could there be to kick off your ‘BIG CITY’ road race season.

We offer:

  • A generous cash only prize list – including reserved prizes for British athletes
  • Free and reserved places for elite & best for age athletes meeting the criteria set out below
  • Elite athletes will be allocated race numbers in the Elite Start pen ‘A’, and offered facilities in our elite marquee & warm up area
  • Free best for age athletes will be allocated race numbers in the Best for Age start pen ‘B’ – immediately behind the elite start

Applications for 2024 Elite & Best for Age entries

To apply for an Elite or Best for Age entry at the Bath Half you will need to have achieved a qualifying time according to our criteria set out below, and to complete the appropriate application form for an ‘Elite’, ‘Free Best for Age’ or ‘Reserved Best for Age’ entry, including details of your verifiable performance – in the 12 months before race day. We will accept evidence of performance at a recognised race on a certified measured course from 10km to marathon distance, achieved since 1st March 2023.

We will review your application, check your performance, and notify you of our decision – normally within 2-3 weeks – and if you are successful you will be emailed an invitation to complete a race entry form within a specified deadline.

So, first check the criteria below, and then complete our application form :

ELITE & BEST FOR AGE application form

Criteria for Elite and Best for Age places

  • Junior Male U20
    • Elite  – Sub 70 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 73 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 80 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Senior Male 20-39
    • Elite – Sub 66 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 70 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 75 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Male Vet 40
    • Elite – Sub 70 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 75 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 85 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Male Vet 50
    • Best for Age – Sub 80 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 95 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Male Vet 60
    • Best for Age – Sub 90 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 120 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Male Vet 70
    • Best for Age – Sub 105 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 140 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Accommodation and/or travel expenses (Male)

    Sub 66 mins (subject to availability)

  • Junior Female U20
    • Elite – Sub 80 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 85 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 95 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Senior Female 20-39
    • Elite – Sub 75 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 80 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 90 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Female Vet 40
    • Elite – Sub 80 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 88 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 100 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Female Vet 50
    • Best for Age – Sub 93 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 110 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Female Vet 60
    • Best for Age – Sub 100 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 120 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Female Vet 70
    • Best for Age – Sub 110 mins – Free Entry
    • Best for Age – Sub 150 mins – Reserved Entry (£51.00) plus booking fee
  • Accommodation and/or travel expenses (Female)

    Sub 75 mins (subject to availability)

  • UKA Affiliated Club Teams (Male)

    4 to score – Sub 4hrs 40 mins

    Free places for scoring team members plus 1 reserve

  • UKA Affiliated Club Teams (Female)

    3 to score = Sub 4 hrs 15 mins

    Free places for scoring team members plus 1 reserve

Prize list

Our £17,000 cash prize list covers men’s and women’s course records, plus all age categories of individuals from junior to veteran 75+, reserved prizes for British athletes, and athletic club teams in open and veteran categories

View our 2024 Prize List

Past winners

Since 1982 the Bath Half has been staged on it’s current 2-lap course, subject to a few adjustments, and boasts an illustrious list of former winners

Our 2023 winners were Jonathan Escalante-Phillips (64:25) and Philippa Williams (73:05).

Past men’s winners include Nigel Gates, John Wheway, Steve Anders (course record holder for 18 years), Colin Walker, Steve Brace, Stuart Hall, Simon Tonui and Chris Thompson. In 2016 Matthew Mbithi set a new men’s course record of 61:44

Past women’s winners include Veronique Marot, Hayley Nash, Karen Mcleod, Annie Emmerson and Susan Partridge. Andrea Wallace’s 14-year old course record was broken in 2007 by Liz Yelling in 69:27

View a full list of our past BATHALF winners

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