Deadline to enter island's largest community event

People considering taking part in the Isle of Man's largest mass participation community event have been encouraged to sign up without delay.

The annual 85-mile (137km) Parish Walk sees participants follow a course that takes in all 17 of the island's parishes.

Entries for this year's endurance event on 20 June close at midnight on Monday.

Race director Ray Cox said while more than 1,000 people had already signed up, there was always a "big rush" ahead of the "absolute deadline for entries".

Cox said the Parish Walk was an "absolutely unique event and it shows the Isle of Man in its best light".

"It's a fantastic community event." he added. "It's very colourful, it's very bright, it's very exciting and it's walking in the Manx countryside. What couldn't be better?"

Cox said many previous entrants had become "hooked" by the experience.

More than half of this year's walkers are expected to be repeat participants.

"People who do it tend to come back and do it again and again," he said. "But if you've never done it before, it can suit everybody of all athletic abilities.

"The first church is only a mere four-and-a-half miles down the road at Marown, but you can test yourself on any distance."

He said all of the intermediary churches were "a target for somebody and a goal that can be achieved".

"It's like the Grand National," Cox went on. "You still do the same course every year, but it doesn't diminish the challenge."

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