About us

1973 - 79

In November 1973, Mr Bob Clarke, along with a volunteer committee established the first City-Bay Fun Run in Adelaide. The News newspaper and Coca-Cola were the first major sponsors.

The event started at the Adelaide Town Hall with 1,600 enthusiastic runners who had all paid 50c each to enter the 11.5 kilometre run which finished at the Glenelg Town Hall, opposite Moseley Square. Funds raised for the event were donated to Athletics South Australia.

In later years, the event start was changed from the Town Hall to North Terrace, but the sharp right-hand curve was not conducive to the safety of the runners, and it was changed to where it currently starts – at the Festival Theatre in King William Street.

The News did the administration, entries and publicity and the committee conducted the event on the day.

1980 - 89

Over the years various aspects of the run changed. The finish was taken to Colley Reserve and then changed to Glenelg Football Oval where it remained for many years. Arthur Jones was appointed Race Director after the retirement of Bob Clarke. Mr Jones retired in 1991 shortly before the demise of the News newspaper.

Des Paul, as its volunteer Race Director, registered the event in 1992 and formalised the existing volunteer committee members to legally protect the future of the event. The focus for fund raising was changed to assist athletics in South Australia.
The event was registered in April 1992 as the City-Bay Fun Run and is owned by the City-Bay Fun Run Committee Inc.

The Advertiser was approached to become the City-Bay major naming right sponsor and have contributed substantially over the years to build their image and association to what has become one of the biggest and best fun runs in Australia.

1990 - 99

Over the years various aspects of the run changed. The finish was taken to Colley Reserve and then changed to Glenelg Football Oval where it remained for many years. Mr Jones also retired in 1991 shortly before the demise of the News newspaper in which Des Paul became the volunteered race director in 1992.

Des Paul registered the event as the City-Bay Fun Run and formalised the existing volunteer committee members to legally protect the future of the event. The focus for fund raising was changed to assist athletics in South Australia. During this time, the Advertiser was approached to become the City-Bay major naming right sponsor and have contributed substantially over the years to build their image and association to what has become one of the biggest and best fun runs in Australia.

In 1997 the event adopted the Champion Chip Timing system to enable the event to finish at Moseley Square, where it finishes today. The event now has a national profile and attracts elite runners, international entrants and competitors from all over Australia. It also has its own website and computer intake system.

In 1998, a Police SA ban on cyclists was enforced, followed by the decision to no longer allow inline skaters from that point forward. Despite these adjustments, the event continued to grow, with entries soaring to an impressive 13,100, thanks in part to the introduction of the Charity scheme that encouraged participants to fundraise for worthy causes.

2000 - 09

The 30th anniversary of the City-Bay Fun Run in 2002 was a standout year, celebrated with a host of new additions, including the launch of the 6km Half City-Bay Fun Run, starting at Kurralta Plaza. It was a thrilling new challenge for participants looking for something a bit shorter but still full of excitement.

During this time, a Memorabilia Expo was set up at the Discovery Centre, offering a nostalgic trip through the event’s history, while the registration office moved to the old News Building on Waymouth Street, marking a new chapter for the event’s behind-the-scenes operations. The year 2004 marked the end of an era with the retirement of Des Paul as Race Director.

In 2005, Joe Stevens took over as Race Director, ushering in a new era. The event’s name was changed from The Advertiser City-Bay Fun Run to the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run, and Colley Terrace became the new finish area, later expanded to accommodate the growing number of participants. To help manage the increasing crowd sizes, specialist marshals from SAMROA were introduced. That year also saw the 3km race renamed the Adelaide Now 3km City-Bay. With the growing numbers, 6 articulated buses were introduced to transport participants from Wigley Reserve.

In 2009, Neverfail Spring Water became a key partner, providing trucks stocked with over 300 11-litre bottles to hydrate the masses, while ASICS joined as the official apparel sponsor.

2010 - 19

In 2010, the City-Bay Fun Run earned the Event of the Year Award at the be active Recreation & Sport Awards, a fitting recognition for its growing success. That year, an impressive 30,989 participants entered the event, drawn in part by the chance to win a Toyota Yaris thanks to CMI Toyota.

Inflatable archways were added to each start and finish line, while the 3km race was rebranded as the Chill 3km Start, targeting a younger audience. The event’s website also underwent a major overhaul, with new features such as online village site bookings, merchandise, e-certificates, and a Facebook link, making it more user-friendly and visually appealing.

In 2011, fundraising efforts surpassed $450,000 for charity, highlighting the City-Bay Fun Run’s continued impact on both the local community and beyond.

The 40th Anniversary of the City-Bay Fun Run was a landmark celebration. To commemorate the occasion, every participant received a limited edition 40th Anniversary gym towel in their race bag, adding a special touch to the experience. The event’s office was relocated to Santos Stadium, and the first-ever Sunday Mail City-Bay Expo was launched, allowing participants to collect their race numbers for free over three days at the Adelaide Town Hall.

The event’s success was further highlighted when it won the Sport SA Significant Event of the Year Award. A new feature was introduced with personalized medal inserts, offering participants a unique and lasting memento of their achievement. Sadly, the founder of the City-Bay Fun Run, Bob Clarke, passed away in 2016, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that continues to inspire the event’s success.

2020 - 24

The City-Bay Fun Run faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 and 2021, with SA Health initially not approving the event despite significant efforts by the City-Bay Office to meet their constantly changing requirements. However, thanks to the support of Lumary, who stepped in as the major Naming Rights Sponsor, the event was able to move forward in a virtual format, keeping the spirit of this iconic event alive and encouraging participants to stay active during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

After a three-year hiatus, the Lumary City-Bay made its triumphant return in 2022, drawing just over 14,000 participants. The following year saw a slight increase to 15,000 participants, though numbers were still lower compared to previous years. Despite this, the event was still deemed a success, symbolizing resilience and a renewed connection to the community.

The 2024 City-Bay Fun Run was a milestone celebration, marking the event’s 50th year with exciting new additions and memorable tributes. To honour this incredible achievement, the documentary “City-Bay: 50 Years and Running” was produced, capturing the rich history and evolution of the race. As part of the celebrations, a special “$50 for 50 Years” early bird promotion was launched, offering participants a chance to register at a discounted rate. The event itself attracted an impressive 23,317 participants, making the 50th edition truly unforgettable. Retro-themes were introduced to the event adding a nostalgic touch to reflect the event’s legacy, while a limited-edition 50-year medal became a popular keepsake. The celebrations also paid a heartfelt tribute to the founder, Bob Clarke, whose legacy was honoured throughout the event, with his family joining the launch and race day to celebrate his profound impact.