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Essar Chester
Half Marathon 2026
SPORTS INFOS — One of the UK's longest-established half marathons. 44th edition, Sunday 17 May 2026. 13.1 miles starting at Chester Racecourse, 9:00 AM. Roman walls, Tudor Rows, cathedral, Cheshire countryside. England Athletics Masters qualifier. Chester Triple. Results via niftyentries.com.
Results — Essar Chester Half Marathon 2026
Official results via niftyentries.com — Sunday 17 May 2026, Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 2LY, Cheshire. Organised by Active Leisure Events under UKA rules.
Official Results niftyentries → 🌐 activeleisureevents.co.uk →44th Edition — Over 40 Years of Running Through Roman Chester
The Essar Chester Half Marathon is one of the UK's most iconic and longest-established half marathons, with 2026 marking its 44th edition. Sunday 17 May, start at Chester Racecourse, 9:00 AM. The predominantly flat, closed-road course heads up Watergate Street, through the famous Chester Walls and the Garden Quarter, then out into the Cheshire countryside past Little Mollington Hall and through the picturesque villages of Mollington and Lea by Backford, before the memorable return for a city centre finish beside Chester Town Hall and Cathedral. 2026 also sees the race host a qualifier for the England Athletics and Welsh Athletics Age Group Masters Championship.
« Lively city centre start and finish, a route taking in all the city centre sights, surrounding picturesque Cheshire countryside and all the enthusiasm you could ask for from the Cestrian supporters who line the course to cheer you on. »
Official Results & Race Info
niftyentries.com
Official finisher results for the 2026 Essar Chester Half Marathon — Sunday 17 May 2026.
Results →Active Leisure Events
Race info, route map, race-day guide, pace runners, training runs and Chester Triple details.
Race Info →Claire House Children's Hospice
The race supports Claire House Children's Hospice — run for them or your own chosen charity.
Claire House →Race Day Info — Sunday, 17 May 2026
| Event / Detail | Info | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essar Chester Half Marathon 44TH EDITION EA MASTERS QUALIFIER | 13.1 miles — 9:00 AM | Chester Racecourse start · Walls · countryside · city centre cathedral finish |
| Chester Triple Medal Series TRIPLE | 10K + Half + Marathon/Metric | Complete all three Chester events in 2026 to earn the special extra Chester Triple Medal |
| Course cut-off | 3 hours — 11:00 AM check | Must reach Overwood Lane (mile 7.75) by 11:00 AM — otherwise directed onto shortened route |
| Help Desk — race packs | Sat 14:00–17:00 / Sun from 07:00 | Chester Racecourse — late entries, replacements and non-UK runners collecting race numbers |
| Fun Run (1 mile) | 1 mile — race day | Included on race day programme — all abilities welcome — great for first-timers |
Getting there: Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 2LY. Chester city centre car parks (various fees) are within easy walking distance — the Racecourse car park is not available for runners. Chester has excellent rail links (direct trains from Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, London Euston via Crewe). Fancy dress is welcome — Roman Centurion themed costumes particularly encouraged! One earbud must be removed for safety; bone conduction headphones recommended. No dogs or buggies permitted. UK race numbers posted approximately 2 weeks before race day; non-UK runners collect at the Help Desk.