THE Bristol 10k and the Bristol half marathon have been selected by UK Athletics to be part of the first money-spinning runbritain Grand Prix Series and a new UK Road Race Championship.

More than £55,000 of British-only prize money is up for grabs in the inaugural grand prix which will link five of Britain's leading road races – including the Bristol 10k – in the 2011 road race calendar.

The event takes in half-marathons in Reading and Birmingham and 10ks in Bristol, London and Swansea.

There is a prize fund of more than £55,000 available to runners eligible for Great Britain and Northern Ireland down to tenth place, in addition to the overall series prize money of £15,000.

From next year the Bristol Half Marathon will also be in a new UK Championship for road races alongside the Virgin London Marathon, the Mini London Marathon and the BUPA London 10k.

Simon Cook, cabinet member for culture, sport and capital projects said: "This is further recognition of the national standing Bristol's road races now have in the athletics calendar.

"This also presents a great opportunity for Bristol's runners to compete with the best in these two prestigious competitions."

A record 10,000 runners took part in this year's Bristol 10k and its elevation to the Grand Prix could see this figure rise to 15,000 next year, according to Bristol City Council's sports events manager Georgette Van Hoof.

"It firmly acknowledges we're in that category of big races," she told the Evening

Post.

"It is particularly pleasing as the race is only three years old and the momentum the Grand Prix will bring should see us reach capacity in double quick time.

"Each race in the series will be helping promote the other races so it means our race will now reach out to new geographic areas. It is great news for the city."

Bristol's Claire Hallissey won her home half-marathon last year and is jetting in from her new home in the US to defend her title on September 5. The 27-year-old is one of the UK talents who would benefit from the extra funding and coverage the Grand Prix and the UK Championships will bring.

Her coach Keith Brackstone told the Post: "The fact Claire is coming back shows how important the race is. It is an integral part of her preparations, which we hope will end at the 2012 Olympics' marathon."

Last week Ms Hallissey finished second in the San Diego Half Marathon in California in a time of 72:22 after passing 10k in 33:15, and plans to compete in the World Half Marathon Championships in China before making her debut at the New York marathon this year, then London in 2011.

"Anyone in the UK who is an aspiring marathon runner would be blessed to have two races like the Bristol 10k and the Bristol Half on their doorstep," added Mr Brackstone.

"And the funds and coverage will be well received. I've described Claire as the invisible woman as she has virtually no profile compared to the likes of Paula Radcliffe. But all going well, the aim is for her to be well up the front in the 2012 marathon."

Managing director of runbritain, Geoff Wightman, said: "We want to raise the standards of domestic race fields, and put in the incentives and quality racing opportunities that will enable Brits to step up."