Latest news with #45thLondonMarathon
Fashion Network
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Everyone agrees: April was a good month for UK retail footfall as Easter and sun encouraged crowds
Despite the month-on-month/year-on-year disturbance in the force (Easter), April returned to offer some sort of normality, delivering a welcome positive boost for UK retail destinations. And for once, related data from both MRI Software and the BRC/Sensormatic footfall monitor were in agreement. Acknowledging Easter's shift into April from March a year ago had distorted year-on-year comparisons, the former said last month's footfall rose 4.3% compared to a year ago while the latter gave an even better increase of 7.2% in April, up from -5.4% in March. 'It was a much-needed lift as the sector deals with ongoing consumer caution', according to MRI Software. It said this boost was largely due to a 5.1% increase in activity at retail parks, bolstered by the shift in Easter holiday timings and a spell of warm weather. High streets and shopping centres also experienced gains with footfall rising 4.1% and 3.9% respectively, 'indicating seasonal events and attractions are drawing visitors back to physical retail destinations'. Over in the BRC/Sensormatic camp, April's high street footfall increased 5.3% (YoY), up from -4% in March; retail parks footfall increased by 7.5% in April, up from -1.2% in March; and shopping centres footfall increased by 5.6% in April, up from -5.8% in March. It also said footfall increased year-on-year across all nations: 6.7% in England, 6.9% in Scotland, 13.6 % in Wales, and the largest increase of 14.3% in Northern Ireland. Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said: 'April brought a welcome rebound in footfall. The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. High streets and shopping centres both saw solid gains [and] retail parks continued to outperform… reinforcing their role as a resilient format.' Other MRI highlights included weekday footfall in April soaring 6.9% compared to last year, highlighting that more people were out and about during the school holidays and that the return to office 'is solidifying into a long-term trend'. And London was a big fan of April. It hosted the 45th London Marathon, drawing large crowds and boosting Central London footfall by 8.6% compared to last year's event. The evening of the marathon saw a significant 19.5% increase in footfall as runners and supporters celebrated, likely giving a much-needed boost to leisure and hospitality venues. As well as the Easter holidays, events including the FA Cup Semi Final and the opening of the IKEA store on Oxford Street may also have likely contributed to Central London footfall levels rising. 'It's encouraging to see retail destinations across the UK maintain positive trends amid several large retailers falling victim to a wave of cyber-attacks which may potentially impact the in-store experience', the MRI report noted. Looking ahead to May, it said trends are promising but retail leaders should remain cautiously optimistic: 'While events such as the bank holiday and school half-term break offer further opportunities to keep up the momentum, the cost-of-living squeeze continues to cast a long shadow. Retailers need to remain agile and focus on delivering value and experience which may help to convert footfall into spend as shoppers grow increasingly selective in how and where they part with their money.'
Fashion Network
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Everyone agrees: April was a good month for UK retail footfall as Easter and sun encouraged crowds
It said this boost was largely due to a 5.1% increase in activity at retail parks, bolstered by the shift in Easter holiday timings and a spell of warm weather. High streets and shopping centres also experienced gains with footfall rising 4.1% and 3.9% respectively, 'indicating seasonal events and attractions are drawing visitors back to physical retail destinations'. Over in the BRC/Sensormatic camp, April's high street footfall increased 5.3% (YoY), up from -4% in March; retail parks footfall increased by 7.5% in April, up from -1.2% in March; and shopping centres footfall increased by 5.6% in April, up from -5.8% in March. It also said footfall increased year-on-year across all nations: 6.7% in England, 6.9% in Scotland, 13.6 % in Wales, and the largest increase of 14.3% in Northern Ireland. Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said: 'April brought a welcome rebound in footfall. The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores. High streets and shopping centres both saw solid gains [and] retail parks continued to outperform… reinforcing their role as a resilient format.' Other MRI highlights included weekday footfall in April soaring 6.9% compared to last year, highlighting that more people were out and about during the school holidays and that the return to office 'is solidifying into a long-term trend'. And London was a big fan of April. It hosted the 45th London Marathon, drawing large crowds and boosting Central London footfall by 8.6% compared to last year's event. The evening of the marathon saw a significant 19.5% increase in footfall as runners and supporters celebrated, likely giving a much-needed boost to leisure and hospitality venues. As well as the Easter holidays, events including the FA Cup Semi Final and the opening of the IKEA store on Oxford Street may also have likely contributed to Central London footfall levels rising. 'It's encouraging to see retail destinations across the UK maintain positive trends amid several large retailers falling victim to a wave of cyber-attacks which may potentially impact the in-store experience', the MRI report noted. Looking ahead to May, it said trends are promising but retail leaders should remain cautiously optimistic: 'While events such as the bank holiday and school half-term break offer further opportunities to keep up the momentum, the cost-of-living squeeze continues to cast a long shadow. Retailers need to remain agile and focus on delivering value and experience which may help to convert footfall into spend as shoppers grow increasingly selective in how and where they part with their money.'
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Tigst Assefa sets women's-only marathon world record at London: still 25 seconds slower than Radcliffe's 2003 mark in mixed race
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa went one-up on the women's-only world record while winning the 45th London Marathon on Sunday. She pulled away from Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya with whom she had set a scorching early pace, and dashed the final couple of kilometres for a famous win. The timing however was 25 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race with men and women starting together. The 28-year-old Assefa, silver medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a double winner at Berlin marathon, clocked 2:15.50 beating the previous women's-only record of 2:16:16 set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir. Jepkosgei, 31, came in second in 2:18.44, while Olympic champion Sifan Hassan was third. She fell back unable to keep up with the sizzling early pace, and was home in 2:19.00. Tigst Assefa celebrates after winning the race with second placed Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei and third Netherlands' placed Sifan Hassan. (Reuters) In the men's event, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya notched his biggest career victory after making a solo breakaway with about 10km left. Nine runners made the leading group before Sawe broke off about 90 minutes into the race and finished in 2:02.27 after kicking at drinks – a bold decision. It was a risky move as Sawe made good time while his rivals slowed down at a drinks station. The Kenyan opted to not take any water despite sultry temperatures. Jacob Kiplimo, the half marathon world record holder who was making his full marathon debut, was the only runner able to give chase to Sawe but could never get close to erasing the gap. The Ugandan finished about 70 seconds back in second place. Sawe's only previous marathon win came in Valencia in 2024, though he became the fourth straight Kenyan to win London. 'Last year, I did have some problems with the cold,' said Assefa, who was second in the 2024 London race. 'My hamstring tightened up towards the end of the race. This year, the weather suited me really well, and that's why I'm really pleased with the way the race went. I was second here last year, and to win here this year is very special,' she added.
RNZ News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Ethiopian Assefa pulls away to win London Marathon
Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered the women's-only world record in winning the 45th London Marathon on Sunday, while Kenyan Sebastian Sawe made a brilliant tactical decision to demolish a stacked men's field en route to victory. The 28-year-old Assefa, silver medallist in the event at last year's Paris Olympics, pulled away from Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya over the final couple of kilometres after the two had set a blistering early pace. She crossed the finish line in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds, beating the previous women's-only record of 2:16:16 set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir, and said the blazing London sun helped, with temperatures approaching 20 Celsius by race's end. "Last year, I did have some problems with the cold," said Assefa, who was second in the 2024 London race. "My hamstring tightened up towards the end of the race. This year, the weather suited me really well, and that's why I'm really pleased with the way the race went. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS "I was second here last year, and to win here this year is very special." Jepkosgei, 31, crossed second in 2:18:44. The sizzling early pace was too much for reigning Olympic marathon champion and 2024 London winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who fell back off the leaders around the halfway mark en route to finishing third in 2:19:00. The 29-year-old Sawe, who made a stunning marathon debut by winning in Valencia in December, pulled away from the lead pack when the others reached for bottles to refuel with about 10 kilometres to go, on his way to crossing in 2:02:27. "So happy, this is my first time to win a major marathon, I was well prepared for this race, and that's why it has become easy for me to win," Sawe said. "It does now give me hope that my marathoning future will be so important to me, and it will be so easy to me." Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who shattered the world half-marathon record in February, was second in his marathon debut in 2:03:37, while last year's winner Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya was third in a photo finish with Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, both crossing in 2:04:20. A world record 56,000 runners were expected to participate in the 42.195-kilometre race that started at Greenwich Park, snaked along the River Thames before finishing on The Mall. - Reuters
Dubai Eye
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Assefa dominates to claim victory at London marathon
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered the women's-only world record in winning the 45th London Marathon on Sunday, while Kenyan Sebastian Sawe made a brilliant tactical decision to demolish a stacked men's field en route to victory. The 28-year-old Assefa, silver medallist in the event at last year's Paris Olympics, pulled away from Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya over the final couple of kilometres after the two had set a blistering early pace. She crossed the finish line in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds, beating the previous women's-only record of 2:16:16 set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir, and said the blazing London sun helped, with temperatures approaching 20 degrees Celsius by race's end.
