People on half marathon route offered free entry
People living along the route of a new half marathon are being offered free entry to take part, as an apology for any disruption.
The race in Kettering, Northamptonshire, is expected to feature 2,500 runners and will see residents in the town affected by road closures.
Organisers Run Through and Kettering Town Council said anyone directly affected could run for no fee.
Craig Skinner, mayor of Kettering, said: "The road closures have been designed to offer minimal disruption." The event is due to take place on 9 March.
The route will start at Wicksteed Park before winding through the town centre, passing Boughton House, before returning via Hanwood Park.
"We hope people will come out and support the runners along the route," Mr Skinner, who is running the race himself, said.
The free entry offer is open to anyone directly affected, including those living in properties at Ise Lodge, Hanwood Park and Warkton, organisers said.
Rob Sullivan, head of operations at Run Through, said it was "a token of our appreciation of your understanding of the slight disruptions caused by this event".
Entry to the half marathon costs £32, which includes chip-timed results, post-race refreshments, free official event photographs and a medal.
A shorter 5km (3.1-mile) option, which takes in the town centre and ends back at Wicksteed Park, has also been organised for less experienced runners.
Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Half marathon will showcase area - mayor
Kettering Half Marathon
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Stanley Cup Final Game 5 facts and questions for Panthers vs. Oilers, tied 2-2
Saturday's Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers could be the pivotal game of this series. Or, it could be just another turbulent classic that leaves puckheads sweating, gasping and asking 'When's Game 6?' Here's what you need to know. ▪ What's the deal: The teams will be in Edmonton's Rogers Place for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final with series tied 2-2 after the Oilers won Game 4 in overtime. TV game time is 8 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max as well as streaming outlets. ▪ What's at stake: The winner gets a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-7 series and will have the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup in Sunrise during Tuesday's Game 6. Since the 1967 expansion from the NHL's six-team era, when a Stanley Cup Final is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner also won the series 11 of 16 times. ▪ Advice for fans: Keep the cafetera ready to make some cafe Cubano for yourself or your watch party. Three of the four games have gone into overtime, two after tying goals in the last 20 seconds of regulation. ▪ Key question for Edmonton: Will Calvin Pickard start in goal after Stuart Skinner got yanked in Games 3 and 4? In both cases, Skinner didn't play badly. In fact, he did well to not give up more goals while the Oilers, by their own admission, flat stunk in front of him. But, Pickard's 7-0 in these playoffs with a better goals against average (2.69) and save percentage (.896) compared to Skinner (2.99, .891) and only lost his job to injury in the second round. ▪ Key question for the Panthers: Did blowing a 3-0 lead and losing Game 4 in overtime shake the psychological equilibrium that's allowed them to surf successfully the wins and wipeouts over the last three years of NHL playoffs and make three Stanley Cup Finals. ▪ Key question for both teams: Can they keep up this series' breathless pace after a a 2,500-mile flight sucks up the lone off day before Game 5? Both coaches, who have been in Stanley Cup Finals before and in hockey their whole lives, remarked on the pace, physicality, the quality of hockey from board battles to open ice skill plays. 'I think [experience and conditioning] all those play a factor, but there's an excitement for both teams that will build as you get toward the end. It's a grinder,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. 'So, you actually find more energy toward the end of a series because there's not another one after this.'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Calvin Pickard Sends Stuart Skinner Message After Saving Oilers' Season
Calvin Pickard Sends Stuart Skinner Message After Saving Oilers' Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Edmonton Oilers were in a familiar spot after 20 minutes of Game 4: down three goals to the Florida Panthers, searching for a spark, and once again turning to backup goalie Calvin Pickard. Advertisement With Stuart Skinner pulled for the second straight game—this time after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period alone—it was Pickard's time again. The 32-year-old answered, just as he has all postseason, and discussed his unscheduled appearance in Game 4 after the game, praising his teammate even though Skinner struggled in net before getting pulled. 'I felt for [Skinner] today,' Pickard said. 'He came ready to play today, he made some big saves early, we just didn't have it as a team early and I think [Knoblauch] just wanted to switch it up.' The switch worked this time, as Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief, allowing only a last-minute equalizer with 20 seconds left in regulation before Edmonton went on to secure a 5–4 overtime win. It wasn't just a clutch performance—it was personal. Advertisement Pickard started the playoffs with a strong first-round run before suffering a lower-body injury in Game 2 against Vegas. Skinner reclaimed the net from there and helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. But after a shaky stretch following Game 1, including allowing 13 goals in three games, the net is shifting again. Pickard's most critical save came in overtime—a glove deflection on a Sam Bennett one-timer that bounced off the crossbar. 'I kind of read it pretty well, and then I looked in my glove and it wasn't there,' Pickard said. 'Then I heard the crowd oohing and aahing and it was a good bounce.' Advertisement 'He makes those stops at the key moments that we really need them,' Leon Draisaitl said. 'He's been nothing but spectacular for us.' Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) squirts his face with water after coming into a DeChiara-Imagn Images Pickard and Skinner have combined to win 14 games this postseason, but Pickard is an impeccable 7-0 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in nine games, starting six of them. With the series tied 2–2 and Game 5 looming Saturday in Edmonton, Pickard appears locked in as the starter, with the finals now turned into a best-of-three series. Related: Taylor Swift's Gesture in Oilers-Panthers Game Reflects Stanley Cup Final Madness Related: Leon Draisaitl's Immediate Reaction to Oilers' Comeback Win Against Panthers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brad Marchand's double-OT goal gives Panthers series-tying 5-4 win against Oilers in Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final: Takeaways
Brad Marchand may have saved the Florida Panthers' season Friday night by scoring 8:05 into the second overtime to give the defending Stanley Cup champions a series-tying 5-4 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Marchand, whose second-period shorthanded breakaway goal had put the Panthers ahead 4-3, took a lead pass from Anton Lundell and raced off on another breakaway. He fought off Leon Draisaitl's efforts to slow him down and slid a backhander that trickled between the legs of Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner. Advertisement 'It was a fortuitous bounce,' Marchand told TNT. 'We'll take it.' Rogers Place went silent as the red light went on, with many in the sellout crowd of 18,347 staying in their seats for several minutes afterward, refusing to believe what they had just seen. It was a huge contrast to the end of regulation, when Edmonton's Corey Perry set off an eruption by scoring the tying goal at 19:42 of the third period, the latest tying goal in the history of the Stanley Cup Final. The previous record was held by Tod Sloan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who scored at 19:28 of the third period in Game 5 in of the 1951 Final. Even more special for Marchand was that his parents were there to see it. Advertisement 'These are memories you have for the rest of your life, not just for yourself but for your family,' he said. Sam Bennett, Seth Jones and Dmitry Kulikov also scored for the Panthers. Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard and Draisaitl had the other goals for the Oilers, who lost for the first time in five overtime games this spring. 'When you win the first one you're disappointed you don't follow up and win the second one,' Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. 'But we're going there with a split. We're comfortable playing on the road.' Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky, his Florida counterpart, combined to allow nine goals – and yet played brilliantly. Skinner finished with 37 saves, including robberies on Marchand midway through the first overtime and again early in the second OT. Bobrovsky finished with 42 saves, the last of which came less than a minute before Marchand's game-winner when he denied Kasperi Kapanen, who was lone in front. Advertisement Marchand's OT winner kept the Oilers from pulling off their second straight comeback win and their eighth of this postseason. Edmonton overcame a 3-2 deficit entering the third period on Wednesday to win 4-3 in overtime; the Oilers trailed 4-3 entering the third period in Game 2 before forcing overtime on Perry's goal. Related: Stanley Cup Final preview, predictions for NHL championship between Panthers & Oilers 'It's obviously an intense series,' Marchand said. 'I loved our resilience. I really liked our game tonight.' The win was vital for Florida, which improved to 9-3 on the road this spring. Teams that lose the first two games of a Stanley Cup Final series have won just five times in 55 tries. Advertisement The series moves to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, for Game 3 on Monday. Marchand's double-OT goal lifts Panthers over Oilers in Game 2 To say that the first period was frantic would be an understatement. The opening 20 minutes saw five goals — the most in the first period of a Final game since 2016, when the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins combined to score five times. There were 25 shots on goal, 50 shot attempts, 22 penalty minutes, seven power plays and two power-play goals, one for each team. There was also a move by Connor McDavid that set up Edmonton's third goal and left his own teammates shaking their heads. Advertisement Bennett gave Florida a 1-0 lead 2:07 into the game with his Stanley Cup-record 12th goal on the road and 13th overall. The big center converted a pass from defenseman Nate Schmidt and beat Skinner from the right of the slot with Kane in the box for a careless high-sticking penalty. Kane atoned for the penalty at 7:39, beating Bobrovsky from the left circle after a Florida turnover. Kane bobbled the puck slightly before regaining control and shooting, perhaps fooling Bobrovsky a bit. Bouchard put the Oilers ahead at 9:19, picking up the carom after Florida's Aleksander Barkov blocked his first shot and whipping a wrister past a defenseless Bobrovsky. But Schmidt earned his fourth assist of the series by starting the play that led to defense partner Jones' goal at 11:37, a rip from the lower left circle into a half-empty net. Advertisement Bennett was penalized on a controversial goaltender interference call at 12:13 – it appeared that he was pushed by Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm into Skinner, who was knocked backwards and needed some on-ice medical attention. Then came McDavid's highlight-reel move. No. 97 deked his way past two Florida penalty-killers before finding Draisaitl alone in the right circle, and the NHL's top regular-season goal-scorer (52) made no mistake, beating Bobrovsky at 12:37 for a 3-2 lead. How great was McDavid's move? Draisaitl insisted that he lead the handshake line at the bench, an honor reserved for the goal-scorer 99.9 percent of the time. The Oilers missed a chance to expand their lead by failing to convert on two late-period power plays, including a 33-second 5-on-3 advantage. Florida also couldn't capitalize on a cross-checking call by Bouchard at 18:41 — and Bobrovsky had to make a superb stop on Bouchard, who came in on a 2-on-1 break after exiting the penalty box. Bobrovsky robbed the big defenseman again a minute later after McDavid sent him in alone. Advertisement The Panthers then began to dominate play, and Skinner made a handful of Grade A saves before Florida got even at 3-3 on a goal from an unlikely source. Kulikov scored his third goal in 72 career playoff games when his straightaway wrist shot from just inside the blue line went through traffic and past Skinner. Matthew Tkachuk and the two defenders trying to check him prevented Skinner from seeing the puck. It looked like a hooking penalty to Florida's Nico Mikkola at 11:06 might slow the Panthers' momentum, and it did indeed lead to the go-ahead goal – by Florida. Lundell was sliding on the ice near his own blue line, saw Marchand leaking out of the zone and swiped the puck ahead. Marchand took it in full stride, went in alone and beat Skinner past the left pad at 12:09 to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead. It was the first non-empty net shorthanded goal in the playoffs since Josh Manson of the Colorado Avalanche scored in the first period of Game 7 in the opening round against the Dallas Stars. Advertisement Only some heroics by Skinner kept the Oilers' deficit at one goal after two periods. The Panthers outshot Edmonton 16-7, had a 17-9 edge in scoring chances and owned an 8-4 advantage in high-danger opportunities, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Oilers had the better of play for most of the third period, but Bobrovsky's heroics and some key defensive plays by his teammates had the Panthers still in front when Florida iced the puck with 31 seconds remained. Florida won the face-off but couldn't clear the zone. Defenseman Jake Walman's shot hit a teammate and the puck caromed into the slot, where Perry dug it out of a pile of bodies and snapped it past Bobrovsky, triggering a raucous celebration from the sellout crowd of 18,347 at Rogers Place. Edmonton outshot Florida 13-9 in the first overtime, but the Panthers had the best scoring opportunities. He robbed Marchand on a short backhander 8:37 into the extra period, then watched as Marchand's rebound try went through his legs but off the left post. Two minutes later, Sam Reinhart had a breakaway from the red line but fired just wide past Skinner's glove. Advertisement The Oilers' best chance came on a 2-on-1 break, but a diving swipe by defenseman Gustav Forsling took the puck off Kane's stick. 3 takeaways after Panthers top Oilers 5-4 in 2 OTs in Game 2 of Final 1. Marchand trade keeps paying dividends The Panthers acquired Marchand from the Boston Bruins prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 and waited for him to get healthy, which didn't happen until late March. He had just two goals and two assists in 10 regular-season games with Florida, but has been increasingly productive in the playoffs, combining with Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen to form a dynamic third line. The 37-year-old has long been known as one of the great agitators in NHL history, and he hasn't given up that part of his game. But the offensive skills that have produced 424 goals and 980 points in 1,100 regular-season games have returned. Marchand has five goals and 15 points in Florida's 18 games, including three goals in the first two games of the Final. Advertisement It was the fifth playoff overtime winner of Marchand's career. He's tied with four players, including teammate Carter Verhaeghe and Perry, for third all-time. Joe Sakic holds the record with eight, followed by Maurice Richard with six. Related: NHL Games Today: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule, Dates, Times, and Results 2. McDavid is on his own planet The Oilers captain finished the night with three assists, including the secondary one on Perry's game-tying goal. But it was his wizardry on Draisaitl's goal that will live on highlight videos for years to come. McDavid turned defenders Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov inside out as he attacked through the center of the offensive zone, then floated a perfect pass to Draisaitl for a goal that put the Oilers ahead 3-2. Advertisement Wayne Gretzky, who knows a thing or two about offense, told TNT's panel after the first intermission that McDavid is playing the game on a different level than everyone else. 'What he's doing differently as he gets older and more mature — we know he's the best player in the game — he's making every player around him even that much better now,' Gretzky said. 'That's a sign of a true superstar and that's the reason why he's the best player in the league. He's unselfish. He works as hard as any player on the ice. 'He wants to win so badly and he happens to have the best set of hands hockey has to offer right now.' 3. Panthers all even despite blowing another lead The Final moves to South Florida for the next two games, and while the Panthers have to be pleased that to get a split of the first two games, they know they've got to tighten up defensively in the third period. Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images The Panthers were 31-0 in the playoffs when leading after the first or second periods during Paul Maurice's first three seasons. That string ended Wednesday, when they couldn't keep the Oilers off the board in the third period before allowing the game-winner in overtime during a last-minute power play. Advertisement They were better on Friday, not allowing the Oilers to dominate play during the third period. But Florida still coughed up the tying goal when Perry scored after Edmonton pulled Skinner for an extra attacker. Expect Maurice to work on locking down leads during the three-day break before Game 3. Related Headlines
