About The Great Island 5K

Race History

The Great Island Road Race is hosted by the New Castle Recreation Committee. The race was conceived in 1993 by two runners on the committee, who had dreamed about the chance to run a race in such a spectacular ocean side location. The idea fit well with a goal of the committee to raise the funds necessary to install a new playground at the Great Island Common.

Many races later we have installed the playground, a skating rink at New Castle Common and assisted in the installation of a new playground at MHT Elementary School. We have also contributed to the Portsmouth High School Track and Field Booster Club and the New Castle Recreation Fund. Finally, we have awarded 8 Thomas W. Quinn Memorial Scholarships (Awarded annually to graduating PHS seniors).

Just as importantly, we have developed a reputation as a first-class race that really gives back to the runners.
If Delicious Food, Great T-Shirts, a huge raffle, First Class Hospitality, and a Spectacular Course that winds along the water front of historic New Castle during peak foliage sound good to you, please join us for the Great Island Road Race!

Our Charitable Causes

In our first 29 years, the Great Island 5K has awarded over $300,000 for causes throughout the Seacoast. Each year we award 2 Jannet Parkinson and 2 Thomas W. Quinn memorial scholarships to deserving college bound high school seniors totaling $8,000. We also provide significant yearly support to the Portsmouth High Track and Cross Country Booster organization as well as support to the MHT Elementary School skating program and track team. We have installed the Great Island Common playground, contributed to the installation of the Maude H. Trefethen Elementary School playground, and have installed and maintained the Great Island Common skating rink now located at the Elementary School. We have also installed a safety fence at the Great Island playground, contributed to the building of the Macomber reading room at the New Castle Library, and contributed to buying a conservation easement on the Back Channel islands.

Dr. Tom Quinn

Tom was a co-founder of the race in 1994. He provided art that graced the race t-shirts from 1994 to 2007. In our opinion, he single handedly made the Great Island 5K road race t-shirts collectors items. Tom was a runner, artist, friend to the Great Island 5K from the beginning and much, much more. We will miss Tom and want to honor his contribution to the making the race what it is today.

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2018 – Each year the Great Island 5K funds the Thomas W. Quinn Memorial Scholarships. The 2018 recipients were Sophia Hennessey and Acadia Momm White, both from Portsmouth High School. They will receive $1000 in both their Freshman and Sophomore years of college. The Great Island 5K awards the scholarship to two new students each year and hands out a total of $4,000 per year (an award of $1000 to each of four scholarship recipients). The winners are picked by the Independent Scholarship Committee at Portsmouth High School. it is today.

2016 – The Thomas W. Quinn Memorial Scholarships were given to Sophie Maher and Elana Estabrook, both from Portsmouth High. They will receive $1000 in both their Freshman and Sophomore years of college. The Great Island 5K awards the scholarship to two new students each year and hands out a total of $4,000 per year (an award of $1000 to each of four scholarship recipients). The winners are picked by the Independent Scholarship Committee at Portsmouth High School.

2013 – The Thomas W. Quinn Memorial Scholarships were given to Hunter Normandeau from Portsmouth High and Rachel O’Brien from St. Thomas, both graduating seniors (2013). They will receive $1000 in both their Freshman and Sophomore years of college. The Great Island 5K awards the scholarship to two new students each year and hands out a total of $4,000 per year (an award of $1000 to each of four scholarship recipients).

Race Origin
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2012 – GI5K committee member Brad Lebo congratulates Kaitlin Stearns and Ed Wilson on receiving the 1st Annual Thomas W. Quinn Memorial Scholarship for 2011-2012. The scholarships are awarded to college bound high school seniors who live in one of the Portsmouth High School district towns. Selection is made from among students who display an aptitude for and strong participation in running. A background and interest in the Arts is a plus. The $2,000 winners are picked by the Independent Scholarship Committee at Portsmouth High School. These scholarships have been established in memory of Dr. Tom Quinn (see below) and will be awarded next in the Spring of 2013.

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