The organisers of the Oxford Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 12 October 2014, are calling on local bands and musicians to get involved on the race day, which will see 6,000 registered runners taking part in the a huge mass participation event.

A ‘Battle Of The Bands’ will be running as the race is in progress. As organiser Dave Box explains, “the atmosphere along the route is vital for all runners, who find it easier to stay motivated and to complete the race when being cheered on by spectators and spurred on by entertainment, especially with thousands running for numerous charities. We want to give everyone an extraordinary race day experience and make the Oxford Half Marathon a race to remember.

So, a prize of £500 is up for grabs by the band or group that is voted as the winner of the competition. Votes will be cast by the runners themselves. BBC Radio Oxford will report on the morning of the event, covering both the build-up and the race.

As Race Director Andrew Taylor puts it: “We know how important a good atmosphere is on race day, and not just in the race village but around the 13.1 miles of the course. We are inviting local bands and musicians of all varieties and backgrounds to get involved in the Oxford Half Marathon by putting their musical mark on it, and making a difference to the race day by creating a great atmosphere. We love diversity, and music is always a favourite with runners and spectators alike as it tends to create a real carnival atmosphere.

Interested? There are no specific requirements to apply, apart from the fact that you’ll need your own equipment/instruments and you must be able to play tunes or songs that you deem as entertaining and motivational (take that as you will!). To apply, send an email with your details – and ideally a short video or link of online footage – to oxfordhalf@gmail.com, or call Dave Box on 07816 847028 for further information.