Organisers of Spooktacular 2023 are expecting a record breaking entry of 1,500 runners for the event this Friday night.

Online registrations for the Enniskillen based run had to be closed early as interest in taking part in the Halloween event hit new heights, with only 100 spaces remaining available for in-person entries at St Michael’s Hall tonight (Thursday) from 5pm and race night until 7pm.

Dessie Elton, a member of the organising team, admitted they were delighted and overwhelmed at the surge in interest for the Halloween event that forced them to suspend the online entry process 11 days before the run was due to get underway.

“The online entry wasn’t meant to close until Wednesday, but we had to close it early. It was crazy,” he said.

“At each stage of the online entries it was about double what it was last year. Previously, there was maybe 850 entries before the race, and then it crept up towards about 1000 on the race evening. We are taking 1500 this year to trial it out. We could have gone on, but there is going to be a big queue at the start.”

The Spooktacular celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, and it has been become a not-to-be-missed evening for many locals.

“The first year after Covid it took off, and it has been galvanised now,” said Dessie.

“Its very much a local thing. There are fun runners that do nothing else but run the Spooktacular. It’s a night time race, and it is fantastic. It’s hard to know exactly why it is so popular. There are a lot of good runners too and it will be very, very competitive at the top end. That is part of the story too. We hope it is a big success.”

The event has been embraced by the community and local businesses alike, with increasing sponsorship allowing the event to flourish.

“Ian Birney our Club Chairman has worked his magic in bringing on board major new local sponsors this year,” said Dessie. “Noelle Mc Aloon and her team from Enniskillen Experience are the main sponsors with the new three quarter zip tops. Johnny Balfour of Elite Electronics has sponsored our medals, Fintan Doherty of O’Doherty’s Butchers has also come on board to join our current sponsors, Natures Choice, Western Cars, and Murdock Builders Merchants. Lilley’s Centra have kindly sponsored the pre-race goody bags and Pat’s Bar at the Diamond once again are sponsoring the after-race refreshments.

“We are very grateful for the fantastic and enthusiastic support of all our main sponsors.”

Last year’s winner of the 5k was Conan McCaughey, and the Belfast based former Enniskillen Running Club member will be back this year to try to defend his title and win the Martin Dillon trophy, named after the first Spook director. In the woman’s field Natika Burke and Edel Monaghan will be among the local runners with their sights set on the fastest time, but the vast majority of the spooky field will be made up of fun runners out to enjoy the atmosphere of what has become Fermanagh’s number one participation event.

Enniskillen Spooktacular starts at 8pm tomorrow Friday evening in Belmore Street under our new inflatable gantry sponsored by Saddlers Restaurant, with the after race celebrations scheduled to take place in Pat’s Bar.