Great North Run
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Review of the Day
It may have been a damp grey summer but the weather smiled on Tyneside for the Great North Run. It was dry and sunny - perfect conditions for runners and spectators alike.
A bevy of Association staff and volunteers busied themselves preparing the Welcome Tent ready to receive and refresh hundreds of our runners and their families and friends.
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| Ready and waiting |
While waiting for the first runners we were entertained by the Old Glory Jazz Band (John Crisp, Gavin Lee, Roger Evans) who seek to keep traditional New Orleans jazz alive and kicking.
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| The Old Glory Jazz Band |
An elite runner
We think this is the first time that an athlete in the Elite classification
has run for MND in the Great North Run. This was Nicola Jefferson, running
on account of her granny. For Nicola it was probably just a quiet jog.
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| Nicola Jefferson |
Early finishers
First man home for us was David Parkin of Loftus Athletic Club, with the amazing time of 1 hour 16 mins.
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| David Parkin - on the road and on arrival |
First woman home was Rachel Buxton of Coventry Godiva Harriers with a time of 1 hour 27 mins.
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| Rachel Buxton - on the road and on arrival |
Other early arrivals were soon streaming in.
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| Nikki Smith | Paul Nutter | Terry Carlyle |
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| Andy Guard | Rob McKenzie | Chris Hewison and Richard Gould |
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| Helen Thoday | Richie Watts | Clare Davies |
Meanwhile, out on the road.......
Some runners had spotted the camera.
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| Andrew Jennians |
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| Steven Foster | Victoria Endersby | Mark Keane |
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| Kathryn Thrall | Alan Wright | Jasmine Boyes |
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| Dougie Scarfe | Yes, ma'am, we can see you're running for us |
Others were concentrating more on where they were going. For example, those in or pushing a wheelchair.
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| Liz Shipley and her team of FireFighters | John Mackie and Graham Glynn |
or those more concerned with setting a good personal time
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| Ian Drainer, running in honour of the late George Campbell |
or simply in just getting there
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| Annie Ollis: suffering in a noble cause |
Back at the Welcome Tent
The numbers soon swelled as more runners arrived, took their refreshment, waited for later members of their team and generally socialised. The crowd spread out into the main arcade, enjoying the warm sunshine, and a party atmosphere developed.
A few were in fancy dress or otherwise eye-catching gear. Andrew Pape was a caveman. Kath Robson wore a wedding dress and David McCauley was carrying a cute little passenger. Andrew Thompson was resplendent in his green and purple Mohican while Helen Smith was disguised as as something with wings and antennae.
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| Andrew Pape | Kath Robson and Nicola Shortt | David McCauley |
It wasn't just the humans who were dressed up.
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| Summer : Steve Rawlinson’s 2-year-old lurcher |
Families and friends were reunited.
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| Carol Copeland and Nicola Scott |
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| Michael Devlin and his father, who has MND |
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| Mike Wilson, Peter Parkes, Batiste Ogier and Mackenzie Johnson | The Boyes family and friends team: runners and volunteers |
The larger teams gradually found all their members.
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| The Moore Crew from Ayrshire
- family and friends running in memory of Jackie Moore |
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| The Lesbirel Group - family and friends running in honour of Mary Lesbirel. Last year Mary did the Run in her wheelchair. She died early this year. |
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| The team running in honour of George Campbell |
It was, as usual, a great day out that seems to get better every year.
Almost everyone taking part is doing so because of tragedy but there is a wonderful spirit of determination to prevail – and if possible to have some enjoyment on the way.
The spirit seemed to be personified in Emma Thomas, who was running on account of her mother. Here she is on the road.
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| Emma Thomas: That’s the spirit! |
Eventually the crowd thinned and disappeared until there was no-one left
but the three members
of National staff - Anita, Denise and Sue.
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| It’s all over! |
Pictures and stories from 2007
Pictures and stories from 2006
Pictures and stories from 2005
Pictures and stories from 2004
Pictures and stories from 2003