Proposals to discontinue the relay element of the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon and increase the overall entry cap are due to be discussed today at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Business and Culture Committee.

The race saw record participation in 2026, attracting more than 1,500 participants. Council officers have proposed raising the entry cap for 2027 to 1,800.

However, the relay option that allowed teams of three to split the distance would be removed. The council report cites a decline in relay team numbers, with just 35 teams in 2026, and the need to reduce costs such as transportation for relay changeover points.

Removing the relay will free up space for more individual runners, supporting the council's goal of boosting overall participation. The report states that every effort will be made to increase participant numbers, with early registration and ongoing sponsorship talks as part of the strategy.

The council also plans to continue its partnership with local running clubs and sponsors, and to encourage new runners through initiatives like the Couch to 5K programme.

Separately, the council wants to increase the number of entrants in the Waterside Half Marathon in Derry to 4,200. The relay element of the Waterside race will remain.

The changes are expected to generate additional revenue and help keep the events within a reduced budget, while maintaining their status as flagship sporting occasions for the region. The Strabane Lifford Half Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, May 16, 2027, and the Waterside Half Marathon for Sunday, September 5, 2027.