Entries for the Manx Telecom Parish Walk opened last Friday and organisers are hoping for another record breaking total as the 2013 event will be extra special because it marks 100 years since the first walk was held. Entry costs £30, but Manx Telecom mobile customers will receive a £5 discount if they enter before January 31. All those who enter will receive a commemorative Manx Telecom Parish Walk technical tee-shirt, goodie bag, and a ticket to the prize presentation. The walk takes place on Saturday June 22 – just go to parishwalk.com for both individual and team entries. All participants – including those for the team and Corporate Challenge events – must enter individually. To enter the team events, entrants simply put the name of their team or Corporate Challenge team on the online entry form.

The Corporate Challenge category is for teams of four who must all be bona fide employees of the same company, and no team can have more than one member who has previously completed the full 85-mile Parish Walk. There is also an overall team competition with the rule that no more than two of the four team members have previously finished the full Parish Walk course. The Manx Telecom Parish Walk can trace its roots back to the 1850s, but the first event that is comparable to the modern format was held in 1913. That year there was an event called the Parish Walking Match organised by the Isle of Man Times and the Manx Sporting Club. The First World War and its aftermath prevented any repetition of the event until 1923. Race Director Ray Cox said:

“The Manx Telecom Parish Walk is always a special day in the Island’s sporting and community calendar – but 2013 promises to be even better due to it being the centenary event. For lots of people who have an ambition to take part, but haven’t got around to it yet, the added prestige of being part of the centenary event could provide that bit of extra motivation they need.”

David Smith, Manx Telecom Marketing Director, said:

“We’re very proud to sponsor the Parish Walk in its centenary year and to build on the success of our first year as title sponsor in 2012. Giving our mobile customers an early sign-up discount proved to be a great way to attract new participants to the event last year so we are extending the offer for 2013.”