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Steelite International produces 2,000 plates to present to Potters 'Arf runners

6 June 2014

Commemorative plates will be presented to runners who complete this year's Potters 'Arf Marathon.

Steelite International has produced two thousand sets of the commemorative tableware for the event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

More than 1,850 runners will be battling it out across the 13-mile course this Sunday, which starts outside Hanley's intu Potteries shopping centre.

Alongside their medals, those who make it over the finish line will also take home their own hand decorated memento.

And the winners this year will also be presented with huge trophy mugs designed by pottery firm Emma Bridgewater.

A mug will be awarded to both the men's and ladies' winners.

Race director Ken Rushton, aged 58, of Lightwood, said: "Stoke-on-Trent is synonymous with the pottery industry, so giving a plate that is made locally to every runner seemed like a good idea.

"The great thing about the plate is that it is unique and it is not something you would get in other races.

"Hopefully it will give the participiants memories of the event, and it could be something they could display on the mantelpiece and show their friends and family.

"I love the final version and it would be fantastic to have a long-term partnership with Steelite so we could do it every year."

The six-inch plates were made at the ceramic firm's Middleport factory before being hand-decorated by workers.

Neil Hooper, managing director of Steelite, said: "We were asked to produce some plates for this year's event, and as a Stoke-on-Trent based pottery firm, we are always happy to support local causes.

"The plates took about six weeks to make from start to finish and I think each one looks lovely."

The Hanley Economic Building Society is sponsoring the run for the seventh year in a row.

Marketing co-ordinator, Sue Pedley, is also a Potters 'Arf committee member.

She said: "We are extremely grateful to Steelite for producing the plates for this year's participants who finish the race."