Stirling Marathon runners can look forward to a post-race sip of gin and tonic once they cross the finish line.

Two of Scotland’s Olympic curlers, Michael Goodfellow and Greg Drummond, will be handing out tasters of Stirling Gin to athletes after they complete the gruelling run.

Bridge of Allan-based Stirling Gin has been named as one of the sponsors for the inaugural Stirling Scottish Marathon which takes place on Sunday May 21.

Staff at the family firm, which also sponsors Stirling-based curlers Team Murdoch, were delighted to get involved in the event which will see 6,500 runners take on a scenic 26.2-mile course.

Co-founder June McCann said: “We created Stirling’s first gin and this is the first Stirling Marathon so it seemed a perfect fit for us to get on board with the race.

“It’s a fantastic run route which goes through Bridge of Allan, where my husband Cameron and I invented Stirling Gin in our kitchen, and past the iconic Wallace Monument which we feature on our labels.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity to offer thirsty runners a taste of our gin with ice and tonic after the race.

“And for the gin-lovers amongst the athletes, the thought of their favourite drink waiting for them might give them an extra boost as they head towards the finish line.”

The award-winning firm will have a gin bar set up near the finish line selling drinks to spectators as well as providing free tasters for runners.

And Stirling curlers Michael Goodfellow and Greg Drummond will be helping serve up gin at the showpiece event which has attracted runners from across Scotland as well as legendary athletes Liz McColgan and Zola Budd.

The pair – with colleagues David Murdoch and Scott Andrews – were part of the successful GB curling squad which won Silver at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and are hoping to be selected for the 2018 Games.

Michael said: “Living and training in Stirling, it is incredibly exciting for such a big sporting event to come to our home town.

“The inaugural Stirling Scottish Marathon will showcase Stirling and hopefully reinforce it as a major sporting hub in Scotland. 

“As big sports fans, we jumped at the opportunity to be involved at the Stirling Gin stall and help cheer on the runners at the finish line.”

The Great Run Company, which is organising the Marathon, is pleased to see a local brand get behind the event.

The firm’s Richard Easterbrook said: “We're delighted to partner with Stirling Gin for the Stirling Scottish Marathon.

"With Stirling Gin being Stirling's first gin and this event being Stirling's first marathon, it is a great fit.

"We're really excited for our first event here and we're sure Stirling Gin will be a welcome sight on the finish line for our 6,500 participants."

Meanwhile, David Kilgour, of Bridge of Allan, is running the Marathon on behalf of Stirling Gin to raise funds for So Precious – a charity which supports neonatal,paediatric and maternity services at Forth Valley Hospital.

David, whose son needed life-saving neonatal care when he was born, wants to raise money for a reclining chair that allows fathers to stay with their new baby and partner on the maternity ward.

Stirling Gin was created by the McCanns following experiments with a range of botanicals in their kitchen two years ago.

It is produced in partnership with Glasgow Distillery and was recently named Best New Business at the Scottish SME Business Awards.

For more information, go to www.stirlinggin.co.uk