media_artricles :: 2016

Bankers taking road running up a notch

Bankers Insurance recently held a gala prize giving dinner for all participants of their 2016 half marathon at the Kampo Vibes Restaurant in Chaguanas and Managing Director, Vance Gabriel told the audience the aim of the company is to take road running to an entirely different level in T&T.

Apart from having the highest purse on the domestic running circuit ($12,000 each for the winners of the men and women titles), Bankers employed a number of new initiatives at their run which was held on Independence Day.

The race started at Point Lisas and ended at the company's headquarters on Mulchan Sewchan Road, Chaguanas. Gabriel who has been the spearhead of the effort which is now two years old said: "What touched me tonight was the fact that a runner came to me and said thanks for making me feel special. This really made all the effort and money we put out worthwhile.

"We have decided at Bankers that we are in for the long haul in terms of our association with distance running and whenever we venture into something, we tend to do it well."

At the end of race won by Kenyan Hillary Kiptor, Bankers had on site a papering station, where the athletes were treated to eats and drinks, as well as showers, massages and entertainment.

Another new initiative was the shuttle service that was provided and according to Gabriel: "When people take part in a marathon, they normally reach the starting point and park their cars. At the end of the race they have to find some way to get back to where their car was parked.

We are very athlete oriented here and what we did was to provide shuttles to take the runners to the starting point, so their cars were at the finish. This was all part of us, thinking of making the athletes comfortable.

"The response we have gotten for our run has been nothing short of phenomenal and we are just into the second year. Sometimes we sit and wonder after such a good start, how can we improve but trust me, when next year rolls around, we will be there again looking to make it better."

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