Crolla Recruits Boxers To Take On Business Challenge

Entries to the Business Challenge at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k are open. For more information, visit greatrun.org/ManchesterBusiness

PROFESSIONAL boxer Anthony Crolla has recruited a team of prize fighters to take on the Business Challenge at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k.

The Business Challenge, supported by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, is back for Europe's biggest 10k running event, which takes place in the city centre on Sunday, 28 May, where companies of all sizes in Manchester's booming business sector will once more battle it out.

The Business Challenge has become an annual fixture in the calendar of Manchester businesses, taking place as part of the 10K which sees thousands of people run, jog or walk their way through city centre streets.

Anthony, who is currently preparing for a WBA world lightweight title fight with Jorge Linares in Manchester on Saturday, 25 March, has assembled a team of professional and amateur boxers to run with him in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run, which also boasts a sold-out half marathon for the first time this year.

The 30-year-old took part in last year's Great Manchester Run with a team of specially-selected runners in Crolla's Army, but his squad this year will be made up of boxers, many of whom train at the same gym as Anthony, in Bolton.

And Anthony said: “I always make sure I do this run. I really look forward to it because the atmosphere makes it a very special day.

“There'll be a few fast times going in, there's a bit of competition between the lads – certainly nobody will want to pick up the wooden spoon.

“It has to be the very best 10k in the world. It brings out the best in the people and the best in the city. It gives people a goal to aim for.

“We're a fit set of lads so we should all be able to do 10k pretty easily but you see people of all shapes and sizes, it gives them the motivation to go on to have a healthier lifestyle.”

This year, the Business Challenge at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k will be supported by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Providing support to more than 5,000 businesses in the area, Greater Manchester Chamber is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

Last year, more than 250 companies and organisations entered more than 3,300 runners to compete for the prize of Manchester's Greatest Businesses and raise hundreds of thousands for local and national charities.

With two distances to choose from in 2017 it is expected that even more companies are expected to enter male, female or mixed teams of 4-8 runners to compete for the trophy awarded to the fastest small, medium and large businesses across the categories.

Included will be a special prize category for Greater Manchester Chamber members – the Chamber Challenge, awarded to the fastest member business from each category in the 10k.

The Great Run Company chief executive Mark Hollinshead said: “Many Manchester companies have taken up the Business Challenge as a great tool for team building.

“With more businesses entering more runners than ever before in the 2016 Great Manchester Run, we're looking forward to seeing this grow even bigger with the addition of the half marathon to the existing 10K.

“Running is a social pastime and there are definite gains to be made for companies entering teams into the Business Challenge.

“It's a case of healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business.”

There are different prize categories and all businesses that enter 12 or more people into the event will receive a free engraved plaque to present to their fastest runner.

Entries to the Business Challenge at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k are open. For more information, visit greatrun.org/ManchesterBusiness