In brief: Butterfield has signed a three-year title sponsorship deal with Run Jersey Events, with the race officially becoming the Butterfield Jersey Half Marathon from 2027. The next event is scheduled for 13 June 2027, and will feature a new free children’s race for the first time.
A New Name on the Starting Line
One of Jersey’s most enduring road races has a new backer. Channel Eye reports that Butterfield in Jersey has entered into a three-year partnership with Run Jersey Events, making the bank the title sponsor of the Jersey Half Marathon. From 2027, the race will carry the name the Butterfield Jersey Half Marathon, with the next edition set for 13 June 2027.
Michelle Le Blond, Branch Manager of Butterfield in Jersey, was enthusiastic about the tie-up. “Sport is an integral part of Jersey life and we are committed to supporting and celebrating events that matter to our community,” she said. “This is a fantastic event with a long and proud history, and we are looking forward to playing a part in its next chapter.”
For a bank keen to demonstrate its roots in the community rather than simply processing transactions from a glass office somewhere, sponsoring a race that draws runners of all abilities is a fairly smart move. It is hard to argue with the logic: put your name on something people genuinely love, and they might just think warmly of you when they need a current account.
A Race With History, and a Future
The Jersey Half Marathon is no newcomer to the island’s sporting calendar. Race Director Digby Ellis of Run Jersey Events noted that the event has been running since 1989, albeit under different names, sponsors and routes over the decades. “What has remained constant,” he said, “is the enthusiasm of the runners, volunteers and wider community who make the event what it is.”
Ellis welcomed the new partnership warmly, saying he was “delighted to welcome Butterfield on board” and expressing excitement about what the next chapter holds for the race.
Something for the Younger Runners Too
Perhaps the most welcome addition announced alongside the sponsorship deal is a brand new children’s race. Free to enter, the event will start shortly after the main half marathon, with young participants completing a single 1,500-metre lap of the track. It is designed to give families a way to get involved in race day, letting children experience the atmosphere and excitement of a proper sporting event without the rather daunting prospect of 13.1 miles.
It is a sensible and inclusive addition. Getting children active, engaged in sport and connected to community events is exactly the sort of thing that pays dividends for an island’s long-term wellbeing, and it costs nothing for families to take part.
Source: Channel Eye
