Brighton Marathon runners angry over unpaid prize money

They include Alix Ramsier, who won this year's event, and has been waiting for his £2,000 winnings for six months.

The 34-year-old said he did not expect to win the race and described the “amazing feeling” as he crossed the finishing line with a time of 2:29:07.

But his elation has turned to frustration after months of trying to get answers about his prize from the organiser, Grounded Events.

An email seen by The Argus congratulated Mr Ramsier and confirmed that he is supposed to receive £2,000 for winning the marathon.

Alix Ramsier, pictured, won the marathon on April 10 (Image: Simon Dack)

It said Grounded Events was “unable to specify a timeframe for this payment” and it would be “actioned at the earliest opportunity”.

Many other runners claimed not to have received the prize money that is awarded to the fastest entrants.

Mr Ramsier, from Croydon, said: “Apart from my children being born, I don’t think I have had a feeling like that I had when I won. I didn’t expect to win it.

“After the race a woman was speaking to me on the tannoy and asked what I would do with the £2,000 and at that moment I thought ‘I have actually won the money’.”

Mr Ramsier said he thought he would receive the money within a couple of weeks after the race on April 10.

He said: “After a month I asked if there was any update. You start to use the money in your head, I thought £2,000 will pay for a holiday for the family.

“I started to think it was odd, this was months later and I sent a bit of a shirty email saying I was disappointed and could someone get in touch. It was radio silence.

Brighton Marathon is for charity but several elite runners also take part (Image: Simon Dack)

“Last week I sent an email saying it has been 160 days since the marathon. I don’t want to do it but it felt like I had to say I will take them to a small claims court. It felt horrible saying it because I felt like I was threatening for something I had won as a prize.”

“It’s a mess, whatever they are doing is a mess.

“I feel sorry for them, it is potentially going to ruin Brighton Marathon for a lot of people and the people of Brighton.

“It’s a shame I haven’t been paid. I run because I love running, I don’t do it for money. I just think it’s terrible they haven’t been paying people.

“The memories of the day will always be there, I doubt I will ever have an experience like that within running ever again. I am so grateful to Brighton Marathon for that feeling.

“If there was no prize, it wouldn’t have changed how I felt about the day. It’s tainted it. What a shame.”

Mr Ramsier, who runs a lawn care company, said he will not run in the Brighton Marathon again while it is managed by Grounded Events.

Grounded Events’ full financial accounts published on April 29 this year for the financial year of 2021, which finishes at the end of April, show that it was £1.2 million in debt.

This is compared with debts of £1.6 million the year before.

Other runners have expressed their frustration online, complaining they have not received prize money.

Grounded Events also managed the UK operations for Ragnar Relay in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, which was cancelled on February 11.

Ragnar Relay in 2017 (Image: Newsquest)

It was cancelled due to the UK event being acquired by a different company which decided it would not continue its relays outside the US.

Several people claim to be waiting on refunds from the relay which they paid to enter.

One man who is in charge of a running team but wished not to be named had to claim just over £830 through the small claims court for the admission fee for his ten-strong team.

They received their money back on August 30.

Tim Hutchings, founder of Brighton Marathon and director of Grounded Events, responded to some of the frustration on Twitter on Tuesday night.

He said: “The team behind the event is small and very hard-working. Circumstances in the events industry - financial and logistical - for those events of a certain scale, are incredibly challenging.

“It is our intention to pay all monies owed and actions are being taken to achieve this.”

Grounded Events was approached for comment.