Great North 10K

Last updated
Great North 10K
Great North 10K.png
Great North 10K logo
DateJuly annually
Location Gateshead, United Kingdom
Event typeRoad
Distance 10K
Official site

The Great North 10K, styled as the Simplyhealth Great North 10K for sponsorship purposes, is a 10K road run, which has been called "the North East's biggest 10K running event", [1] [2] [3] with over 5,000 people taking part. [4] It is part of the Great Run series and the number of participants is only outnumbered by the Great North Run. The race in its present format was first staged in Sunderland in 2009 but changed locations to Gateshead for the 2011 event. Prior to 2009, a 10K race had taken place at Roker along the coastline of Sunderland but the event was only open to female competitors; when it changed to permit male participants, it was re-styled as the Great North 10K. In 2013, the date was brought forward [5] to become the official running event partner of the 2013 European Team Championships. [6] [7]

Contents

History

For three years commencing in 2006, a women-only 10K race was held at Roker along the coastline of Sunderland. [8] When the race was opened up to allow for male competitors, it became known as the Great North 10K. [9]

The re-styled Great North 10K run first took place in mid July 2009 in Sunderland and that year it had 4,500 people taking part together with top flight runners from around the world. [10] Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries set the competitors off. The event was televised and broadcast by Channel Five with repeats shown on various Sky Sports channels; highlights were later shown on television channels throughout the world. [11] The overall winner was Steve Mokoka, the champion half marathon runner from South Africa who completed the course in a time of twenty-nine minutes twenty seconds. Male competitors also gained second and third places in the form of Africans Tsegai Tewelde and Tsegezeab Woldmichael. However, the fastest times set in the women's section were all British runners with Kate Reed crossing the line first in thirty-three minutes twenty-two seconds. Hayley Haining was second and Rosemary Ryan from Ireland was third. The event was described in the Sunderland Echo newspaper as having an "electric atmosphere" together with "perfect running conditions" making it a "huge hit". [12]

By 2010, it was only beaten numerically by the Great North Run as the biggest North East running event as the 10K race had increased in popularity and attracted over 5,000 competitors. The event was gain televised by Channel Five and networked worldwide through the Sky Sports channel. An episode of the Street Barber was also filmed for the BBC's The One Show programme featuring celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas who was offering to re-style some of the fun runners hairstyles. [13]

In 2011, it changed locations to the Gateshead International Stadium, [14] which meant spectators were able to watch the finish from the grandstand. [10]

Together with Olympic medallist Brendan Foster, Gateshead Council had originally organised fun runs in late 1977; this is believed to have been the onset of these events in the north east. Three runners who had taken part in the 1977 race were guests of honour in 2013. [5]

The date of the run was brought forward in 2013 so that, for the first time, the European Athletics Team Championships was partnered with the Great North run. Staged to coincide with the final day of the championships, the climax was described by Mick Henry, the Gateshead Council leader, as a "fantastic weekend for sport in Gateshead". [15] Several competitors responded positively to this, with Linda Green, a Gateshead council member saying "Thousands of runners sharing the finish line with Europe’s biggest athletes such as Mo Farah, is something they will never forget". [16]

Mike McLeod, winner of the first Great North Runs in 1981 and 1982 and winner of a silver Olympic medal in 1984, was the race starter in 2013. [17]

Competitors

Participants are made up from fun-runners, many who are raising funds for charity, and competitive elite and club racers. [18]

In the inaugural race held in Sunderland in mid July 2009, those taking part included Dan Robinson and Matt O'Dowd, who had represented Britain in the marathon at the Olympics, and Tegla Loroupe the Kenyan long distance track and road runner. [11] The whole team from the Northern Division Premier League champions of Sunderland Women's Football Club took part in the run as a way of boosting their overall fitness. [19]

During the 2012 race, 200 Gurkha soldiers, who were undertaking a 39-week training period at Catterick Garrison, joined the race; a contingent of 150 Gurkha soldiers also competed in 2013. [18] [20] The Gurkhas were joined by fifty personnel from the Guards Training Company who competed for the first time in 2013. [16] The Guards Training Company is also based at Catterick and has responsibility for the ITC Catterick Foot Guards Combat Infantryman's Course. [21]

Route

In 2009 and 2010 when the event was staged in Sunderland, the race started at the Stadium of Light, headed over Wearmouth Bridge then along Fawcett Street heading to Mowbray Park. The competitors then turned back over the bridge to follow the coastline and return to the finishing line at the Stadium of Light. [11] This route provided a fairly flat course. [13]

Since moving location to Gateshead in 2011, the race starts just outside Gateshead International Stadium on Saltmeadows Road. [17] The route goes past Northern landmarks, such as the Millennium Bridge, the Sage, the Tyne Bridge and the finishing line is within the Gateshead International Stadium. [22]

Past winners

YearMen's raceTime (m:s)Women's raceTime (m:s)
2009Flag of South Africa.svg  Stephen Mokoka  (RSA)29:20Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Kate Reed  (GBR)33:22
2010Flag of Kenya.svg  Edwin Kipkorir  (KEN)28:44Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Susan Partridge  (GBR)33:46
2011Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Scott Overall  (GBR)29:48Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Louise Damen  (GBR)33:53
2012Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Scott Overall  (GBR)29:34Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Gemma Steel  (GBR)32:56 [23]
2013Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Ryan McLeod  (GBR)30:28 [24] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Gemma Steel  (GBR)33:26 [25]
2014Flag of Uganda.svg  Stephen Kiprotich  (UGA)29.39Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Gemma Steel  (GBR)32.45
2015Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Abdi Nageeye  (NED)29.50Flag of Ireland.svg  Fionnuala McCormack  (IRE)33.19
2016Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Sparrow Morley  (GBR)34.27Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Michelle Nolan  (GBR)38.24

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunderland A.F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sunderland Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. Formed in 1879, Sunderland play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The club has won six top-flight titles in the First Division, and has finished runners-up five times. The club has also won the FA Cup twice and been runners-up twice, as well as winning the FA Charity Shield in 1936 and being finalists the following year. Sunderland have also been Football League Cup finalists in 1985 and 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paula Radcliffe</span> British long-distance runner (born 1973)

Paula Jane Radcliffe MBE is a former British long-distance runner. She is a three-time winner of the London Marathon, three-time New York Marathon champion, the 2002 Chicago Marathon winner and the 2015 World Champion in the Marathon from Helsinki. She was previously the fastest female marathoner of all time, and held the Women's World Marathon Record with a time of 2:15:25 for 16 years from 2003 to 2019 when it was broken by Brigid Kosgei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunderland</span> City in Tyne and Wear, England

Sunderland is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the historic county of Durham. The city is 10 miles (16 km) from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on the River Wear's mouth to the North Sea. The river also flows through Durham roughly 12 miles (19 km) south-west of Sunderland City Centre. It is the only other city in the county and the second largest settlement in the North East after Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catterick Garrison</span> Garrison and military town in North Yorkshire, England

Catterick Garrison is a major garrison and military town 3 miles (5 km) south of Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world, with a population of around 13,000 in 2017 and covering over 2,400 acres. Under plans announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in November 2005, its population is expected to grow to over 25,000, making it the largest population centre in the local area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Foster</span> British long-distance runner

Sir Brendan Foster is a British former long-distance runner, athletics commentator and road race organiser, who founded the Great North Run, one of the sport's most high profile half-marathon races. As an athlete, he won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 1976 Summer Olympics, and the gold medal in the 5,000 metres at the 1974 European Championships and the 10,000 metres at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He later provided commentary and analysis on athletics, particularly long-distance events, for BBC Sport after his running career ended.

The Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world, taking place annually in North East England each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gateshead International Stadium</span> Arena in Felling, Tyne and Wear, England

Gateshead International Stadium (GIS) is a multi-purpose, all-seater venue in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. Originally known as the Gateshead Youth Stadium, the venue was built in 1955 at a cost of £30,000. It has since been extensively re-developed on three occasions. Its capacity of around 11,800 is the greatest in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, the third-largest in Tyne and Wear, and the sixth-largest in North East England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Mottram</span> Australian runner

Craig Mottram is a former Australian long and middle-distance runner who specialised in the 5000 meter event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Marathon</span> Annual race in the U.S. since 1976

The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) is an annual marathon held in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia. The mission of the MCM is to promote physical fitness, generate community goodwill, and showcase the organizational skills of the United States Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gebregziabher Gebremariam</span> Ethiopian long-distance runner

Gebregziabher Gebremariam is a retired Ethiopian long-distance runner. He established himself at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, winning the junior title in 2002 and two silver medals in the senior races in 2004. He represented Ethiopia over 5000 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics, taking fourth place, and over 10000 metres at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was the 2009 World Champion in cross country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Palatine of Durham</span> Historic county of Northern England

The County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge, commonly referred to as County Durham or simply Durham, is a historic county in Northern England. Until 1889, it was controlled by powers granted under the Bishopric of Durham. The county and Northumberland are also traditionally known together as Northumbria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Kogo</span> Kenyan long-distance runner

Micah Kemboi Kogo is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who specialises in the 10,000 metres. He is the former world record holder in the 10 kilometres road race event with a time of 27:01. He made his first Olympic appearance in 2008, taking the 10,000 m bronze medal in Beijing. His 10000m best of 26.35 is 6th fastest of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Bristol Half Marathon</span>

The Great Bristol Half Marathon is an annual road running event held on the streets of Bristol, UK. The route is at sea level and starts on Anchor Road outside We The Curious. Participants make their way toward Hotwells before heading under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and along the Portway toward Sea Mills before returning the same way then navigating around Cumberland Basin then along Spike Island before crossing Prince Street Bridge, circling Queen Square then heading to Castle Park via St Mary Redcliffe and Temple Circus. The final mile and a half take place in the Old City and Bristol city centre before crossing the finish line back at Anchor Road.

The Great Manchester Run is an annual run through Greater Manchester. It has consisted of a 10k run since it was established in 2003, and a half marathon since 2017. The 10k race is the largest of its type in Europe. Usually held in mid-May, it is the third-largest mass participation running event in the United Kingdom, behind the Great North Run and the London Marathon. It is part of the Great Run series of road races in the UK. It was formerly sponsored by Bupa (2003–2014) and Morrisons (2015).

The Great Yorkshire Run is an annual 10K run road race previously held in September in Sheffield City Centre, England, and now held in July in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It is a part of the Great Run series of events, and as such is linked with the Great North Run. It was run for the first time in 2007, and was run over a weekend, with the mini (3–8-year-olds) race at 2 km and the Junior (9–14-year-olds) race at 3 km taking place on 6 September at Don Valley Stadium, with the full 10 km Great Yorkshire Run taking place on the Sunday. It was formerly supported by the city development company Creative Sheffield, and the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. From July 2016, the Great Yorkshire Run is now sponsored by Theakston Brewery and is referred to as the Great Yorkshire Run - Harrogate in association with Theakston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Eastern Run</span> Running event in Peterborough, UK

The Perkins Great Eastern Run is a running event that takes place every year in Peterborough, United Kingdom, generally in mid-October. The event returned in 2006 after a 10-year absence and is rapidly gaining popularity. Currently, there are three races in the whole event:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spartan Race</span>

Spartan Race is a series of obstacle races of varying difficulty ranging from 3 miles to marathon distances. These races are held in the United States and have been franchised to 30 countries, including Canada, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines and several European countries. The series include the Spartan Sprint, the Spartan Super, the Spartan Beast, and the Spartan Ultra. Spartan Race also has a military series, hosted on military bases. Spartan also holds winter and team events.

The Great Birmingham Run is an annual half marathon road running event held in Birmingham, UK in October. Formerly known as the Birmingham Half Marathon, from 2011 it became part of the Great Run series of road races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Scottish Run</span>

The Great Scottish Run is a series of mass-participation road running events, held annually in the streets of Glasgow, Scotland in October. The event began as a full marathon in 1979, but later changed to a weekend of shorter events. The weekend now includes short events for children, a 10K roadrace, and a half marathon. The 2013 event, which was sponsored by the Bank of Scotland, featured over 30,000 competitors. It is the largest mass-participation sporting event in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miles for Men</span>

Miles for Men is a UK charity which hosts male only fun runs around the country to raise funds for cancer charities. They have already raised over £84,500.

References

  1. ↑ "Great North 10K". North East Autism Society. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Bupa Great North 10K". Gateshead Council. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Bupa Great North 10K to take place ahead of European Athletics Team Championships". run247.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Bupa Great North 10K". greatrun.org. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Runners in UK first fun run". The Journal . Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Rae, Helen (8 May 2013). "Runners launch the Bupa Great North 10K Gateshead race". Chronicle Live . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "The Great North 10K Run: Can You Spot Yourself?". BSkyB. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Great Women's Run". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Great North 10K moves". BBC. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Race history". greatrun.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 "Sunderland is on its marks". Sunderland Echo . 11 July 2009. ProQuest   435068429.(subscription required)
  12. ↑ Clark, Kevin. "Great North 10K". Sunderland Echo. ProQuest   435058131.(subscription required)
  13. 1 2 Wheeler, Katy (9 June 2010). "Star's cutting edge offer to race runners". Sunderland Echo. ProQuest   366932265.(subscription required)
  14. ↑ "About the Run". greatrun.org. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Thousands share Gateshead Bupa Great North 10K finish with Mo Farah". The Journal. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Rain can't stop the Gateshead Bupa Great North 10K". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  17. 1 2 "5,000 set to compete". The Journal. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  18. 1 2 "3,000 runners join Bupa Great North 10K race". The Journal. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Women's football squad taking part in 10K race". The Northern Echo . 13 June 2009. ProQuest   329311954.(subscription required)
  20. ↑ "Gurkha Recruits Return to Bupa Great North 10K". greatrun.org. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "2nd Infantry Training Battalion". British Army. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "The Course". greatrun.org. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Bupa Great North 10K Run - Gateshead 2012". greatrun.org. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Gateshead also staged running" (in Portuguese). Atleta-Digital. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Athletics: Gemma Steel defends Great North title". Leicester Mercury . 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.