STAG HOMES are to provide prize money for local athletes in next month’s Stroud Half Marathon, which will be be run on Sunday, October 22.

There will be prizes of £300 for the first male and the first female runner, who are members of a Gloucestershire athletics club or who have a Gloucestershire address.

Dan Robinson, a director of local house builder Stag Homes, came second in the Stroud Half Marathon in 2000 and went on the run marathons in two Olympic Games and won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

“The Stroud Half Marathon was certainly one of the launch pads for my international career and I would like to encourage others in this way,” said Horsley-based Dan.

Now retired from competitive running Dan hopes to be at the finish to present the cheques.

Entries to the 36th edition of the Stroud Half Marathon are still available at www.stroudhalf.com

The race is organised by a partnership between Stroud AC and Immortal Sport Ltd.