The company that organises the Great North Run enjoyed a successful 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic caused the cancellation of all of its 2020 events, newly released accounts show.
Nova Marketing, which trades as The Great Run Company, is best known for staging the Great North Run in the North East as well as a series of 10K, half-marathon, marathon and now ultra-marathon events around the 海角视频.
The firm also runs a TV production division, FilmNova, which helped profits rise in 2019 despite seeing a fall in turnover.
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Accounts for the year ended December 30 2019 show the group crossed the finishing line with turnover of £18.3m, down from £20.3m a year earlier, although operating profit almost trebled from £747,502 to £2,047,844.
In a report accompanying the accounts, the firm said that it continues to focus on investing in its existing events base, while exploring new opportunities, such as the new ultra London event, and urban ultra marathon which were held for the first time in October 2019.
The report outlines a number of successes for FilmNova, which expanding into triathlon through the coverage of the 2019 World Triathlon Series and the Superhero Tri for Channel 4.
While the financial period covered in the accounts does not include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the report describes how it was affected, with the cancellation of the entire year’s events portfolio.
It also highlights how the company responded, by creating the Great Run Solo.
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It said: “The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions impacted significantly on the physical staging of the groups 2020 events portfolio. The group was forced to make the difficult decision to cancel all events in 2020. All of our participants, charity and commercial partners have been continually supportive with a high proportion of 2020 entrants electing to defer their entries into the 2021 events.”
It added: “The group responded with the development of Great Run Solo, a virtual running offering which we anticipate is the largest virtual running program in the 海角视频 and was successful in raising significant funds for charity during a pandemic.”
Following the publication of the accounts, a spokesperson for The Great Run Company said: “The performance for the year ended 31st December 2019 was pleasing for the group, with another strong operating performance.
“The group continues to be focused on its existing events business and exploring new opportunities in mass participation, such as Ultra London, an urban Ultra Marathon held for the first time in October 2019. 2019 was also another good year for FilmNova, the Group’s TV production division.
“This performance has provided a strong platform for what has been a very challenging 2020 for the group and the wider events industry. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown restrictions resulted in the cancellation of the entire 2020 events calendar.
“All participants, charity and commercial partners have been incredibly supportive with very large numbers of entrants opting to defer their entry into 2021 and also signing up for Great Run Solo, which we believe to be the largest virtual running programme in the 海角视频. The group looks forward to welcoming back all participants and partners in 2021.”