Sport Northland is proud to announce ASB as the new naming rights sponsor for the newly-named ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon.

“As entries begin to open this week for the event on Saturday 21 November, we are very excited to be able to announce that ASB have extended their partnership with Sport Northland to include the Kerikeri Half Marathon,” says Sport Northland Chief Executive Brent Eastwood. “Kerikeri is such an iconic event in Northland and to have our long term partner ASB see the value of this to Northland, and to their brand, is wonderful.”

ASB has been Sport Northland’s major sponsor since 1992, and the partnership continues to go from strength to strength, with the ASB Half Marathon joining other sponsorships such as the ASB Leisure Centre, the ASB Northland Secondary Schools Sports Awards and the ASB Northland Secondary Schools Events Programme.
 
The other exciting aspect of the partnership is ASB’s experience with sponsoring major sporting events including the ASB Auckland Marathon and the ASB Classic. “ASB is looking forward to working with Sport Northland and the race organisers to further enhance the event as a world-class competitor and spectator experience,” says Mr Eastwood. 

”The ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon is one of the annual highlights of Northland’s event calendar enjoyed by so many across the community and attracting competitors from around the country,” says Roger Beaumont, ASB’s Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communications. “It is a fantastic companion to our sponsorship of the ASB Auckland Marathon and other major sporting events. Coming on board to support the ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon further extends our strong commitment to supporting Northland’s sporting and local community.” 

Entries for the event open this week with demand expected to be high following record numbers in the other events in Sport Northland’s Run/Walk Series this year.

The event has some long standing records with Aucklander Seaton Meredith holding the men’s half marathon record since 1999 when he finished in a time of 1:05:14. Northland’s Mary Davies has held the women’s record since 2003 when she finished in a time of 1:15:19.

Once again the event is expected to boost the local economy by drawing large numbers to Kerikeri for the weekend from throughout the country, with over 1,000 entered from outside the Northland region in 2014. 

For the fifth year Sport Northland and the ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon has teamed up with the Cancer Society to help raise funds in Northland. Previous years have seen a considerable amount of money raised via the event for charity. 

The Half Marathon will be followed by the popular Kerikeri Street Party. The main street is closed, food stalls line the street plus there is entertainment, including bands, which creates a great atmosphere for a fun evening. 

To find out more about the ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon and to enter, visit www.runwalkseries.co.nz.