The second-oldest road race in Bermuda has been approved to go ahead this month.

The Hannover Re Half-Marathon, now in its 49th year, will be a scaled-back version owing to Covid-19 health and safety restrictions. There will be no accompanying 5K and 10K this year.

The 13.1-mile race features a slightly changed route, which has allowed organisers to avoid some of the busier roads and junctions.

Competitors will wear face masks up to the start of the race, which can then be safely discarded. They will be handed a new disposable face mask when they finish. There will be no post-race awards ceremony or catering, and participants are requested to leave the venue as soon as practically possible once they have finished the event.

The annual race was first staged in March 1972, and has undergone numerous course and name changes over the years. The only road race in Bermuda with a longer continuous history is the Bermuda Day Half-Marathon Derby.

Sammy DeGraff won last year’s half-marathon in 1hr 15min 2sec. Sarah Thompson was the women’s champion in 1:39:33.

The Hannover Re event on November 22 starts and finishes at the Tucker Property on South Road, opposite the south entrance to the Botanical Gardens.

This year’s route will head east to Paynter’s Road, Hamilton Parish, where competitors will do two loops featuring Harrington Sound Road and South Road before returning to the finish at the Tucker Property.

Dirk Hasselkuss, the race director, said the simpler course reduced the number of volunteers needed and would add interest for competitors. Entry fees and donations will be split between Friends of Hospice and the Bermuda National Athletics Association.

There will be no entries accepted on race day. To register for the event, visit https://www.racedayworld.com/