JW Hinks is counting on victory at this year's Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge – because it had two wins last year.
Both male and female teams from the Edgbaston chartered accountancy firm struck gold in the Small Business Category in 2015.
The men took the title after the team completed the 13.1 course in 6:24.11. The females achieved a time of 9:15.10.
Eleven staff members will represent the Highfield Road firm at this year’s half marathon on Sunday, October 16.
The male team of James Cruse, Stuart Pryor, Neil Hale, Jonathan Walsh and Hamid Bukhari will be going all out to hold onto their crown.
While Dylan McLoughlin, Bradley Adams, Karen Rose, Sarah Benson, Beth Davis and Jasbir Hayer will form a mixed team.
The Great Birmingham Run is one of the country’s biggest half marathons, with more than 20,000 people expected to enter.
Supported by the Birmingham Post, the Business Challenge sees companies compete against each other for trophies.
Any company that enters 12 or more employees will automatically receive a free, personalised plaque in the name of the fastest runner in the team.
Companies taking part will also feature in a special magazine reporting on all Business Challenge entries.
JW Hinks team leader James said: “We had to produce a group PB of 6:24:11hrs to win the male title last year and it was a brilliant achievement.
“We came second the year before and we really want to defend our trophy.
"With the Business Challenge getting more popular and competitive each year, it won’t be easy, but we’re training hard and hopeful of a positive result.”
JW Hinks’ Business Challenge entry is central to their annual fundraising effort. Having raised over £5,000 last year for St Basil’s, which helps homeless young people, the firm is running in aid of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice in 2016.
“The Business Challenge is a fantastic event and brilliant for team-bonding,” added James.
“At work, we often discuss how our training is going and encourage each other. It’s our main fundraising event of the year and all of our clients get right behind us.
“The course goes past our office and one of the first questions new starters get asked is: ‘do you like running?!’
“We’re also planning to enter a team into the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon in October 2017.”
How to enter the Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge
Business Challenge teams must be a minimum of four people and a maximum of eight but companies can enter as many teams as they want in male, female or mixed-sex categories.
Mixed teams must have a minimum of two men and two women.
Team members must be 16 years of age or over on race day and placings are based on the accumulated first four finishing times in each team.
Sign up for the Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge by visiting here
Sign up for the Great Birmingham Run as an individual runner by visiting here
Sign up for the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon reminder service by visiting here
Great Birmingham Run
