Sutton Council is offering young athletes the opportunity to represent the borough in the Virgin Money Giving Mini-London Marathon in April.

Anyone aged 11 to 17 who lives or goes to school in Sutton can take part for free but must pre-register by Friday 19 February.

To compete in the five-kilometre race against all 32 other London Boroughs, the runners will need to qualify in the local Sutton Trials on Saturday 27 February.

The trials take place at the Roundshaw ‘Park Run’, Roundshaw Downs, off Purley Way, and the athletes must turn up on the day to register there from 10.30 to 11.00am, with the race starting at 11.30am

The age categories are:

• Girls under 13 (born between 1 September 2002 and 24 April 2005 – and must be at least 11 years old on 24 April 2016)
• Girls under 15 (born between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2002).
• Girls under 17 (born between 1 September 1998 and 31 August 2000).
• Boys under 13 (born between 1 September 2002 and 24 April 2005 – and must be at least 11 years old on 24 April 2016)
• Boys under 15 (born between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2002).
• Boys under 17 (born between 1 September 1998 and 31 August 2000).

The first four runners to reach the finish in each age range at the trials will be selected to represent Sutton in the young people’s event, which takes place on the final stretch of the famous London Marathon route in central London on London Marathon day, Sunday 24 April.

The five-kilometre route will see the athletes run from Blackfriars, along the Thames to the Marathon’s finish line in Pall Mall.

Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment & Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our top runners to enjoy the buzz of the London Marathon and represent Sutton in front of crowds of thousands of people. We hope as many of young Sutton athletes as possible register to take part in this exciting event.”

To enter the Sutton Trials, go to the London Borough of Sutton website and the Mini-London Marathon page and complete the Sutton online application form by clicking here.