The Sir Stanley Burgess 5K road race ? named after one of Bermuda?s greatest runners ? has been given a significant financial boost by Government this year and looks set to become an increasingly important event on the road running calendar.

Announcing the Department of Youth and Sport?s plans for the 17 year-old race yesterday, Sports Minister Dale Butler revealed that it would have a children?s category for the very first time while the prizes for each division would also be greatly improved ? including two round-trip tickets to New York and $500 to any male or female runner who breaks the race record.

The May 7 race, which starts and finishes on Frog Lane in Devonshire, is named after the late great ?Sir? Stanley, who ran in a record 50 consecutive May 24th marathons, winning 12 of them.

Swan?s Running Club are the race organisers and president Otis Robinson said yesterday that they had already attracted entries from some of Bermuda?s top distance runners, including brothers Lamont and Larry Marshall as well as seven-time Princess to Princess champion Jay Donawa, all of whom will be likely warming up for this year?s Marathon Derby.

Another Swan?s Running Club official, Donna Mae Smith, urged all those interested to sign up before the final registration deadline of Friday, May 5.

?We are extremely grateful to the Minister for showing this race such fantastic support,? she said.

?We are really excited to have a juniors? race for the very first time and also a large number of prizes for each of the categories.?

Registration forms can be picked up from Sportseller, Sports R? Us and the International Sports Shop.

The children?s race will get underway at 8.30 a.m. with the main race for runners and walkers scheduled to start half an hour later.