Each year, Grantham Running Club are allocated club places in the London Marathon and as in previous years, the Club’s intention is to offer our London Marathon club places via a Club ballot to take place at the 2026 AGM.
However, as you may be aware, the 2027 London Marathon is taking place over two days (Saturday and Sunday).
The ballot format will be the same as last year, but with two draws for each day.
Saturday Draws
Ballot 1 – The first draw for the Saturday race excludes anyone that has had a club place in the last 5 years.
Ballot 2 – The second draw for the Saturday race excludes anyone that has run the London Marathon in the last 5 years.
Sunday Draws
Ballot 1 – The first draw for the Sunday race excludes anyone that has had a club place in the last 5 years.
Ballot 2 – The second draw for the Sunday race excludes anyone that has run the London Marathon in the last 5 years.
2027 London Marathon Club Ballot Criteria
For all ballots, applicants:
- Must be a continuous paid up, first claim member of Grantham Running Club (GRC) for at least 1 week prior to April 2025 up until the date of the draw.
- Must have completed an official UKA race or trail, ultra or overseas race of at least Half Marathon distance during the calendar year of the draw, up to the date of the 2026 AGM (Friday 23rd October)
- Must have applied for the 2027 open ballot to the TCS London Marathon race and be able to produce evidence they were unsuccessful in securing a place.
The new criteria is designed to maximise the number of members getting the opportunity to participate in the London Marathon, and to ensure that club places go to members that have demonstrated they are likely to be capable of completing the training required to run the London Marathon.
Saturday race – Ballot 1
In addition to the previous criteria, applicants must not have been allocated a GRC club place for the past five London Marathons.
Saturday race – Ballot 2
In addition to the previous criteria, applicants must not have participated in the London Marathon in the last 5 years.
Sunday race – Ballot 1
In addition to the previous criteria, applicants must not have been allocated a GRC club place for the past five London Marathons.
Sunday race – Ballot 2
In addition to the previous criteria, applicants must not have participated in the London Marathon in the last 5 years.
How To Enter
If you meet the criteria set out above, entry is by email only to secretary@granthamrunningclub.co.uk with the subject line “2027 GRC London Marathon Club Ballot Entry” and include a copy or scan of one of the following:
- 2027 TCS London Marathon rejection letter or email
- 2027 TCS London Marathon Good For Age rejection letter or email
- Screenshot of rejection from your TCS London Marathon account
The entry email must also include the following statements, deleted as applicable:
- I confirm I have not been allocated a GRC club place in the last 5 years.
- I confirm I have not participated in the London Marathon in the last 5 years.
All entries will be checked to ensure they meet the criteria.
The closing date for entries to the ballots is Monday 19th October, at 12pm.
The Draw
The 2027 London Marathon ballot draws will take place at the 2026 AGM, to be held at the Grantham Tennis Club on Friday 23rd October.
Rules of the Draws
- Applicants’ names will be printed on a piece of paper and placed within a ‘hat’ for each draw.
- A member, not in the ballot, will draw one piece of paper from the hat and present it to the draw official.
- The draw official will announce the selected recipient of the first club place.
- Points 2 & 3 will be repeated to determine a reserve club place for Ballot 1.
- Points 2 – 4 will be repeated to determine the club place, and reserve, of Ballot 2.
- Points 2 – 5 will then be repeated for the Sunday race ballot
Important Information
We hold the club ballot before the formal confirmation of how many club places we will be allotted by TCS London Marathon for both the Saturday race and the Sunday race. This is to ensure that members do not lose vital training time before the event. Should TCS London Marathon decide not to allot it the two places we expect for each race, Grantham Running Club has no liability or responsibility to provide replacement places. If only one place is allocated for example, only the result of the first ballot will stand.
If successful in getting an entry, members still need to pay the standard entry fee.
Note – If a member meets the criteria for both Ballot 1 and Ballot 2, then that member will be entered for both ballots for both days.
If you have any questions regarding the 2027 GRC London Marathon ballot, please do not hesitate to email me at secretary@granthamrunningclub.co.uk and I will endeavour to answer any queries as soon as possible.