THE An annual institution since 1981
IT’S a special day on the North East calendar – the Great North Run is taking place.
The first Newcastle-toSouth Shields race took place on Sunday, June 28, 1981.
Today it’s one of the biggest running events in the world, with millions raised for charities by competitors, and with countless famous names taking part.
Last year, it was won by Olympic champion Mo Farah for the fourth time in a row. But, if the world-class athletes grab the headlines, it’s the thousands who run for good causes – often in fancy dress – who are arguably the real stars.
Tyneside’s very own halfmarathon was devised by former schoolteacher and Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist, Brendan Foster.
Hebburn-born Foster – today a respected TV sports pundit – was inspired to put together the Great North Run after competing in the Round the Bays Race in New Zealand in 1979.
In 1981 the first Great North Run was advertised as a local fun run. By last year the number of participants had risen to 57,000.
Up until 1990, the runs were mostly held in June. Since then they have taken place in September or October.
Thirty-seven years ago, our sister paper, the Chronicle, reported on the first Great North Run.
“Crowds estimated at between 250,000 and 500,000 turned out to watch the 12,264 runners on the race route from Newcastle to South Shields seafront, making it Britain’s biggest road run.
“It is also expected to set a series of other records, including the most money raised for charity by sponsorship. Up to £1m could be going to charities with the Charlie Bear Scanner Fund – backed by the Evening Chronicle – one of the biggest beneficiaries.
“An amazing 10,665 runners crossed the finishing line to collect their race medals.
“The winner was Elswick Harrier Mike McLeod in 63 minutes, with Brendan Foster finishing 20th.”
Foster said afterwards: “It’s been a great day for the region, and a privilege to be there. We have got no choice. We’ll have to have another one next year.”
One of the runners that day would soon forge a very special bond with folk in the North East – or, at least, some of them.
Southampton and England football superstar Kevin
Brendan Foster finishes the 1981 Great North Run. It was the Tyneside athlete who devised what is now a major annual event Keegan was running for the Charlie Bear appeal.
He said: “The people up here have been wonderful to me, but the person I really did it for was Charlie Bear.
“I’m just glad to be able to help such a good cause. Running in this race means I am helping people with cancer and that can only be good,” said Kevin, who finished 490th.
The run cost him about £250. The player had promised to pay 50p towards the body scanner for every man, and £1 for every woman who beat him.
Keegan competed in a specially-made half-andhalf Sunderland and Newcastle United running shirt.
Just over a year later, in August 1982, the star would pull on a proper black and white shirt when he sensationally signed for United.
Enjoy our Great North Run photos from down the years. Front: Future Newcastle United player and manager Kevin Keegan is joined by supporters on the first Great North Run, in 1981
Above, the long and winding trail of runners at White Mare Pool, Gateshead, on route for South Shields, 1982; left, the pre-email years. Chris Hammond, left, and Nichola Eddy count that year’s Great North Run entries,1985