Athletics
9 August, 2025
Five weeks to Horsham Running Festival
The countdown is on to the inaugural Horsham Running Festival on September 14, as festival organiser Brian Haddy is encouraging Wimmera Mallee residents of all abilities to have a go.
Taking place along the Wimmera River in Horsham, the festival offers a choice of distances, including 5km, 10km, half-marathon and marathon runs; 5km and 10km walks; and an untimed 2km run for kids under 12.
Haddy said the festival was an opportunity for participants to get moving, meet people and take part in a running event that was often less available to regional areas.
“This is just one small thing we're doing to encourage people to get out a little bit more and to get involved in physical activities,” Haddy said.
“There are big city fun runs, but I like setting up runs in regional areas and giving people opportunities they don’t usually get.
“It’s all about a bit of fun, a bit of exercise and a bit of camaraderie.”
Having organised other marathon festivals in recent years, Haddy identified Horsham as a potential new location and started organising after receiving interest from locals.
“This will be the inaugural Horsham Running Festival, and it's come about because I've organised other marathon festivals around in regional Australia – Coober Pedy, Broken Hill and Mildura,” Haddy said.
“When I was looking for a site in this area it seemed that Horsham hadn't had a marathon festival before, so when I spoke to a few local people they seemed enthusiastic.
“It's a bit of an experiment and we'll see how it goes.
“So far we've got about 150 early-birds and still six weeks to go.
“I'm hopeful that we'll get to 300 or 400.
"The more we get, the more likely it is that this will become an annual event.”
Andrew Sostheim, event director of Horsham’s weekly Saturday parkrun at the Wimmera River, said that people were welcome to volunteer if they’d like to be involved in other ways.
“With the Horsham Running Festival coming up, there's opportunities to volunteer too,” Sostheim said.
“You don't necessarily have to be a runner: as with parkrun every weekend, for people who aren't involved with football clubs and stuff like that, it gives them connection with community, gives an opportunity to give back.
“It's nice to see other people achieve goals as well, rather than just always be out to set your own personal bests and things like that.”
Haddy has also launched official merchandise for the Horsham Running Festival: shirts and visors with artwork designed by Horsham artist Michelle Taylor, a Yorta Yorta woman.
Those interested in signing up or volunteering for the Horsham Running Festival can visit https://horshamrunningfestival.com.au/