Top accountancy firm KPMG has claimed bragging rights over their rival firms after they took first place in the accountancy division of last night’s Standard Chartered Great City Race. With the top four runners’ times from each company counting, KPMG proved to be the quickest team pipping Kingston Smith to the title, with Moore Stephens LLP in third place.
The companies were competing against 16 other accountancy firms in the 5km race which attracted over 5,000 runners from nearly 400 companies spanning the banking, insurance, legal and media sectors.
The race, which is in its seventh year and proving more popular than ever before having sold out a record two months early, was once again raising funds and awareness for Seeing is Believing, a global initiative that tackles avoidable blindness.
The individual race was won by Speechly Bircham LLP’s Chris Busaileh in a lightning fast time of 15 minutes and 35 seconds, with Ben Shearer of Standard Chartered second and Paul Halford of Athletics Weekly third. It was a familiar story at the top of the winner’s rostrum in the women’s event with Emily Wicks capturing the women’s title for the third year in a row in a time of 16 minutes 50 seconds, with Lara Bromilow of HSBC second and Azmera Gebrezgi of Kinetic Partners LLP third.
Celebrating her victory Emily said, “The race is my favourite event of the year: it’s always got a great crowd and atmosphere. I’m delighted to have won my third title here and definitely looking forward to coming back again next year to try for a fourth!’
On a night when the streets of the City of London were transformed from a bustling financial hub into a buzzing running track Standard Chartered led the way with 400 staff taking part in the race which was started by Seeing is Believing ambassador Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE. Among the Standard Chartered staff running were Richard Holmes, CEO Europe who ran as guide for Paralympic legend and visually impaired runner Noel Thatcher MBE.
£5 from each runner’s entry was donated to Seeing is Believing (SiB) and Standard Chartered further incentivised teams to help raise funds for SiB by pledging to match all funds raised pound for pound. The race hopes to raise enough funds to help improves the eyesight of 6,500 children.
Speaking at the race Sir Ranulph Fiennes said, “When I heard the statistics around avoidable blindness I was shocked. Amazingly there are 285 million people living with blindness and visual impairment yet 80% of cases could have been prevented. Tragically one child goes blind every minute and 60% of these will go on to die within a year.
“When I plan for an expedition I’m fortunate that I know I have all my faculties and most importantly my sight, I can’t imagine having to live without sight. So to learn that 80% of visually impaired and blind people could be cured was shocking. The measures to help visually impaired people are quite simple and cost effective, a sight saving cataract operation costs just £20. Through tonight’s race we hope to raise enough funds to help improve the sight of 6,500 children.”
Richard Holmes, CEO Europe at Standard Chartered Bank, added: “It has been a truly memorable evening and yet another landmark year for The Standard Chartered Great City Race with all 6,500 entries being snapped up within 8 weeks of opening. I’m sure I speak for not just our staff members but also every runner here today when I say how proud we are to get behind an event which has the ability to bring the City community together whilst raising money for such an incredible cause as Seeing is Believing.”
A full list of team and individual results can be found at the race website www.cityrace.co.ukfrom midday on Friday 15 th July.
All results are provisional and subject to ratification.
Top Three Men:
Winner: Chris Busaileh of Speechly Bircham in 15 minutes 35 seconds.
2nd place: Ben Shearer of Standard Chartered Bank in 15 minutes 48 seconds.
3rd: place: Paul Halford of Athletics Weekly in 15 minutes 48 seconds.
Top Three Women:
Winner: Emily Wicks of Punter Southall in 16 minutes 50 seconds.
2nd place: Lara Bromilow of HSBC in 17 minutes 50 seconds.
3rd place: Azmera Gebrezgi of Kinetic Partners LLP in 18 minutes 26 seconds.
Team Sector numbers:
Accountancy – 17 teams, Banking – 58 teams, Insurance – 36 teams, Legal – 96 teams
Media – 12 teams.
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