London Marathon Ballot Criteria
As an affiliated England Athletics club PWR receives a small number of guaranteed entries to the London Marathon, and via our established relationship with London Marathon Events we are offered opportunities to volunteer at their events which over recent years have included London and Brighton Marathons and the Big Half.
Members find these volunteering opportunities rewarding and the events sometimes provide PWR a place(s) in the following year’s event in return. PWR has a policy of balloting all of these places to members, though the Committee may also choose to raffle places to members to raise funds for charity.
Members wishing to enter a ballot for entry into these events must meet the following criteria:
The ballot draw is usually made at a PWR social event towards the end of the calendar year but may be made at any time subject to when the places are made available and the deadline to submit name(s) of successful ballot winners.
An invitation to members to enter the ballot(s) will be made at least two (2) weeks before the ballot draw. Members entering the ballot do not need to be present at the ballot draw.
In exceptional circumstances a successful ballot entrant who has a valid reason why they will not be able to run can request their place be transferred to another club member, subject to the following criteria:
The Committee decision on eligibility is final. Questions can be sent to [email protected]
Additional criteria for specific event(s):
London Marathon
In addition to the ballot entry criteria above, members must:
Brighton Marathon
The criteria to enter the members’ ballot is as described in 1-4 above. There is no requirement to have entered the event.
Big Half
The criteria to enter the members’ ballot is as described in 1-4 above. There is no requirement to have entered the event.
Annex A: Volunteering credits
Tier A - 3 Volunteering credits
These are examples of members who hold positions of responsibility within the club or who volunteer on a regular basis:
Tier B - 2 Volunteering credits
These are examples of members who have taken on additional responsibility within the club or who volunteer frequently:
TIER C: 1 Volunteering credit
Any other volunteering examples:
Members find these volunteering opportunities rewarding and the events sometimes provide PWR a place(s) in the following year’s event in return. PWR has a policy of balloting all of these places to members, though the Committee may also choose to raffle places to members to raise funds for charity.
Members wishing to enter a ballot for entry into these events must meet the following criteria:
- Must have been a first claim PWR member for two (2) years before race day.
- Must not have won a place in a members’ ballot for that event in the previous three (3) years.
- Must have at least three (3) volunteering credits (see Annex A) achieved in the 12 months leading up to the ballot date
- Must additionally meet any specific ballot criteria for the event (see below).
The ballot draw is usually made at a PWR social event towards the end of the calendar year but may be made at any time subject to when the places are made available and the deadline to submit name(s) of successful ballot winners.
An invitation to members to enter the ballot(s) will be made at least two (2) weeks before the ballot draw. Members entering the ballot do not need to be present at the ballot draw.
In exceptional circumstances a successful ballot entrant who has a valid reason why they will not be able to run can request their place be transferred to another club member, subject to the following criteria:
- Registration of the successful entrant has not yet taken place
- The club member to whom the place is to be transferred met the eligibility criteria and entered the club ballot
- Both the original winner and the member to whom the place is transferred will be deemed to have won a place and so be ineligible to enter the ballot for the following three years
The Committee decision on eligibility is final. Questions can be sent to [email protected]
Additional criteria for specific event(s):
London Marathon
In addition to the ballot entry criteria above, members must:
- Have entered the main London Marathon ballot for the upcoming race but not been successful and be able to produce a rejection email or magazine (with their name clearly displayed).
- Must not already have a place in the London Marathon, i.e. a deferred or other place. The exception is if you have submitted an entry for a Good for Age entry, then you are eligible to enter the ballot but you must indicate your GFA application on the ballot form so that if you are successful in the club ballot we will delay registering your place until the results of your GFA application are known.
Brighton Marathon
The criteria to enter the members’ ballot is as described in 1-4 above. There is no requirement to have entered the event.
Big Half
The criteria to enter the members’ ballot is as described in 1-4 above. There is no requirement to have entered the event.
Annex A: Volunteering credits
Tier A - 3 Volunteering credits
These are examples of members who hold positions of responsibility within the club or who volunteer on a regular basis:
- Committee Member,
- 10K Race Director
- Track Coach
Tier B - 2 Volunteering credits
These are examples of members who have taken on additional responsibility within the club or who volunteer frequently:
- Group Leader who has led 8 or MORE times in the 12 months leading up to the ballot
- KFL Team Manager
- Beginners Course Leader,
- Club Website Manager
- Kit Distributor
- Grand Prix committee member
- Summer Fitness Leader (Thursday nights)
- Tuesday Night Run leader rota organiser - responsible for timetabling the leaders and covering absence
TIER C: 1 Volunteering credit
Any other volunteering examples:
- Assembly League team leader
- Tuesday night run leader who has led FEWER than 8 times in the 12 months leading up to the ballot
- PWR 10K 2026 race volunteer
- 2026 London Marathon / Brighton Marathon / Big Half volunteer with PWR
- Club photographer
- National Trust or local community representative (active in the role)
- PWR charity representative (active in the role e.g. helps to organise fundraising efforts)
- PWR Midsummer Run 2026 Volunteer
- PWR Members 10K 2026 volunteer
- PWR quiz master
- Any other volunteering example (subject to approval of the PWR Committee)