MEDIA GUIDE10 - 12 SEPTEMBER 2021

CONTENTSWeekend Contacts / TV Times

Great North 5k &Junior and Mini Great North Run

About the Events

Timetable

Human Interest Runners

Course Maps

Great North Run

About the Event

Timetable

Official Starters

Elite Start List

Celebrity Runners

Human Interest Runners

Course Map

Press Release

Roll of Honour

Notes to Editors

WEEKEND CONTACTSJunior and Mini Great North Run

Philippa Brock - 07921582509

Aleisha Stansfield – 07592024981

Great North Run

Philippa Brock - 07921582509

Richard Easterbrook 07970 818 389

Press Room Manager

Aleisha Stansfield – 07592024981

Email: media@greatrun.org

Sunday 12 September

The Great North Run is live on BBC Two from 09:00 to 10:00 and then footage will move over

to BBC One until 13:30. The highlights will be shown on BBC 2 from 17:00 to 18:00 on Sunday

evening.

TV TIMES

About the events

The Great North 5k will kickstart this massive weekend of sport for the North East, when

hundreds of participants are set to pound the pavements of the NewcastleGateshead

Quayside. This event attracts all levels of runner, from gentle joggers to those looking to smash

their personal best.

This will be followed by the UK’s biggest children’s running event – the Junior and Mini Great

North Run, giving young runners of all abilities the chance to be involved in an amazing

weekend of sport.

Junior and Mini Great North 50

The Great North Run has been working with local physios and the Great North Children’s

hospital to give even more children the chance to be involved, by the inclusion of a 50-metre

event distance. All children taking part were invited to walk, push, run or anything in between,

along the Newcastle Quayside, where they’ll finish under the gantry.

Media Facilities:

Your media pass will gain you access to the start and finish areas, located on the Newcastle

Quayside, between the Tyne and Millennium Bridges. Interviews will be available.

Social media #GreatNorthRun #GNR40

GREAT NORTH 5K &JUNIOR & MINI GREAT NORTH RUN

@great_run@great_run facebook.com/GreatNorthRunGNR

TIMETABLE

07:00 Information Point Opens

07:30 Roads around Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside Close

08:47 Start of Junior Great North Run

10:52 Final Junior Great North Run Wave

11:15 Mini 50 Assembly Zone Opens

11:45 Start of Mini 50

11:45 Junior and Mini Great North Wheelchair Assembly Zone Opens

12:15 Start of Junior and Mini Great North Wheelchair Starts

12:35 Start of Mini Great North Run

15:17 Final Mini Great North Run Wave

18:00 Event Closes and Roads Re-open

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About the event

On Sunday 12 September the Great North Run will mark a momentous milestone as the world’s

biggest half marathon finally celebrates its 40th staging. GNR40, which was postponed last

year due to Covid restrictions, will bring 57,000 runners together to mark four decades of the

iconic event this weekend.

Taking in the iconic Tyne Bridge not once but twice, the race goes through Gateshead passing

the famous international athletics stadium and loops back around to finish on the Great North

Road, adjacent to the Town Moor. Live music, on-course refreshments and thousands of

cheering supporters will keep runners motivated every step of the way.

Media Facilities

The press room for this year’s event is located inside Wylam Brewery in Exhibition Park.

Palace of Arts Exhibition Park, Claremont Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PZ

Refreshments and a light lunch will be available.

WiFI

Network: Wylam-Secure Password: G0 5urf1ng

GREAT NORTH RUN | GNR40

GREAT NORTH RUN | GNR40TIMETABLE

09:15 Start of Elite Wheelchair and Visually Impaired Great North Run

09:20 Start of Elite Women Great North Run

09:45 Start of Elite Men Great North Run

09:45 Start of Great North Run – ORANGE wave

11:05 Start of Great North Run – WHITE wave

12:25 Start of Great North Run – GREEN wave

ELITE MEN

ELITE WOMEN

WHEELCHAIR RACERS

GREAT NORTH RUNOFFICIAL STARTERS

Community Nurse, Dorathy Oparaeche Northumbria Healthcare

Dorathy took care of some of the most vulnerable people in our region, in their

homes, during the pandemic.

Senior Sister Jade Trewick, Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle

Jade heads a respiratory support unit created in just 12 weeks to care for patients with severe Covid infection.

Dr Mickey Jachuck, Consultant Cardiologist, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Mickey and his team provided 24/7 cover for critically ill patients with Covid during

the pandemic.

Deborah Southword, Occupational Health Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead

Deborah and her team put initiatives in motion to support staff through the hardest days of

the pandemic and beyond.

GREAT NORTH RUNWELL KNOWN RUNNERS

Jamie Jones Buchanan

Rugby League legend, assistant Coach at Leeds Rhinos

Running for the Rob Burrow FoundationMND Association

Michael Chakraverty

Writer, podcaster and baker. Competed on The Great British Bake Off

Running for Alzheimer’s Society .

Andy Burnham

Mayor of Greater Manchester

Running for the Rob Burrow Foundation MND Association

Matt Johnson

Welsh television presenter. Former host on ITV’s This Morning and co-host of Channel 5’s

OK! TV.

GREAT NORTH THANK YOUHEROES REVEALEDGREAT NORTH RUN CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES INSPIRATIONAL INDIVIDUALS OF THE PANDEMIC The full list of inspirational individuals to be honoured at this year’s Great North Run has been revealed. Thirteen people from all walks of life, who went above and beyond to support their communities during the pandemic, will be featured on billboards at every mile along the course of this year’s Great North Run. The Great North Thank you campaign, supported by proud partners HSBC, will shine a light on some of those who gave up their time, worked through impossible challenges and put others first over the last 18 months. Some were nominated by their individual organisations, others were chosen by a panel that included Deputy Regional director, HSBC North Region, Mark Wake and long time Great North Run volunteer and many times winner Dame Tanni Grey Thompson. Mark said, “It was an honour to hear more about the work and dedication of these incredible individuals, “We are delighted to be able to support the Great North Run and to be part of a team celebrating the amazing achievements of the people of the North East. Ordinary people doing extra ordinary work is something that inspires us all and we are so looking forward to seeing the Great North Run back in full flow this year” Founder of the Great North Run Brendan Foster said, “We’re so pleased to be able to recognise the achievements of these inspiring individuals at this year’s event. “The Great North Run has always been a day where we celebrate the power of collective effort and endurance, but these people have kept that momentum going, under incredibly difficult circumstances over a longer period of time than anyone could have imagined. “It’s right and fitting that we recognise them on Sunday and give the whole region the chance to say ‘Thank You’.” The billboards will all be installed in Times Square, in front of the Life Science Centre in Newcastle City Centre and will be available for the general public to view from 12:30PM on Friday 10 September until early evening on Saturday 11 September, before they will be moved on to the course of the Great North Run.

GREAT NORTH THANK YOUHEROES REVEALEDFeatured in the Great North Thank You campaign will be: Dr Mickey Jachuck, Consultant Cardiologist South Tyneside District HospitalMickey and his team provided 24/7 cover for critically ill patients with Covid during the pandemic Senior Sister Jade Trewick, Ward 49, Royal Victoria InfirmaryJade heads a respiratory support unit created in just 12 weeks to care for patients with severe Covid infection. Community Staff Nurse Dorathy Oparaeche, Northumbria HealthcareDorathy took care of some of the most vulnerable people in our region, in their own homes, during the pandemic. Deborah Southworth Occupational Health Team Lead, Queen Elizabeth HospitalDeborah and her team put initiatives in motion to support staff through the hardest days of the pandemic and beyond. Louise Damms, Home Manager, Cheviot Court, Care UKLouise managed the home through three Covid outbreaks, where she sadly lost residents Jill Maguire, Family Time Service Manager, South Tyneside CouncilJill and her team innovated to ensure looked after children could stay close to biological relatives

David Craker, Civil Enforcement Officer Newcastle City CouncilDavid volunteered his time to deliver food packages and worked at the Civic Centre Covid testing site.

Ian Banks, Operations Manager, Gateshead International StadiumIan and his team pivoted to help their community by turning the stadium into a food distribution warehouse for those in need.

GREAT NORTH THANK YOUHEROES REVEALEDTracey Henton, Community Champion Morrisons CowgateTracey facilitated the Food Bank Initiative where premade packs were available for shoppers to add to their weekly shop and donate as they left the store. Brenda Parker, School Caretaker Harton Primary School South ShieldsBrenda didn’t take a single day off during the pandemic, working tirelessly to ensure the school was safe for staff and pupils. Jan Heslop, Junior Head Coach, Elswick HarriersJan worked tirelessly to keep the junior section of the club training and engaged throughout the pandemic Honorata Devlin, FundraiserDespite being diagnosed with Cancer in 2019 Honorata raised around £5,000 for St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington during the pandemic. Sergeant Tom Power Mental Health VolunteerTom, is currently serving with the Royal Dragoon Guards, he volunteered for Mental Health Concern during the pandemic.

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GREAT NORTH RUNPRESS RELEASETHE STAGE IS SET FOR THE 40TH GREAT NORTH RUN GNR40 will be a landmark occasion for world’s biggest half marathon

On Sunday 12 September the Great North Run, presented by ExpressTest by Cignpost, will mark a momentous milestone as the world’s biggest half marathon finally celebrates its 40th staging. GNR40, which was postponed last year due to Covid restrictions, will bring 57,000 runners together to mark four decades of the iconic event this weekend.

Sir Brendan Foster, along with his team of original founders, staged the first ever Great North Run on a sunny day in June, 1981. From day one the Great North Run was breaking records, with around 12,000 runners lining up on the central motorway it instantly became, and remains to this day, the UK’s biggest mass participation running event.

Since 1981 there have been 1.2 million finishers, the event now raises around £25M for charity each year and contributes around £31m to regional economy.

Sir Brendan said, “It’s a privilege for me to be here talking about the 40th Great North Run, and I’m only able to do that because of the way the event has been embraced by the people of the North East.

“Since the very beginning the Great North Run has been an unapologetic celebration of ordinary people doing extraordinary things – it embodies everything that’s great about the region; our grit, determination and sense of community.

“That support has elevated the event to one of the best in the world, welcoming runners, elite and amateur, from across the globe.

“If you’d told me 40 years ago this is where we’d be I would have found it hard to believe, I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years bring.”

This year’s event will also pay tribute to the heroes of the pandemic. The Great North Thank You Campaign, with support of proud partner HSBC, will feature 13 inspirational individuals in a large-scale visual installation along the route of the course.

Four of those heroes, local NHS Staff, will also be the event’s official starters. Dr Mickey Jachuck a Consultant Cardiologist from South Tyneside District Hospital, Senior Sister Jade Trewick from the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Community Staff Nurse Dorathy Oparaeche and Deborah Southworth Occupational Health Team Lead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, will have the honour of officially setting runners on their way.

GREAT NORTH RUNPRESS RELEASEThings will be a little different this year, and for the first time the course will start and finish in Newcastle City Centre, there will also be changes to the start in order to keep runners as safe as possible on the day.

Joining the masses, a competitive elite field will also be in attendance. It will be all change in the elite races in 2021 – on a brand-new course, there will be two first-time winners over the 13.1mile distance.

Eilish McColgan makes her half marathon debut on Tyneside this weekend, having excelled at 5,000m and 10,000m. The 30-year-old Scot, who represented Great Britain in last month’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, stepped up to the 10-mile distance for 2019’s Great South Run and took a memorable victory on the South Coast. McColgan, the Scottish 5,000m record holder, will be gunning for victory in a race previously won by her mum, Liz.

McColgan will be up against two-time Olympic medallist Hellen Obiri and American Molly Seidel, who competes in her first Great North Run just a month after taking a sensational bronze medal in the Olympic marathon in Sapporo.

In the men’s race, Bashir Abdi will be looking to upgrade his third place achieved in 2018 at the Great North Run with victory at the weekend. The Somali-born Belgian, a training partner of six-time winner Sir Mo Farah, was a bronze medallist in the Olympic marathon in Sapporo last month.

Abdi will face stiff competition from another of Farah’s training partners with American Galen Rupp also confirmed for the race. The 35-year-old memorably finished second to Farah at the 2012 London Olympics 10,000m final, before stepping up to the marathon at Rio 2016 where he took bronze.

Rupp, with a half-marathon PB of 59.47, finished eighth in the Olympic marathon in Sapporo last month, three minutes behind champion Eliud Kipchoge.

Marc Scott, this year’s top ranked British athlete at 5000m, 10000m and half marathon will make his Great North Run debut, chasing another PB and a first sub 60’ half. The Richmond and Zetland Harrier represented Great Britain in Tokyo, finishing sixth in the 10,000m final in the Olympic Stadium. In 2019, Scott took an impressive victory over 10 miles in the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

In the wheelchair race, Shelly Woods will be looking to add to her six Great North Run victories this weekend, while Simon Lawson is confirmed for the men’s race. The Cumbrian last tasted victory on Tyneside in 2017.

All the action gets underway on Friday night with the Great North 5K starting the party at 6PM, before the Junior Mini Great North Run will see thousands of young runners lining up on the Quayside on Saturday.

GREAT NORTH RUNROLL OF HONOURMEN

2019 Mo Farah Great Britain 00:59:072018 Mo Farah Great Britain 00:59:262017 Mo Farah Great Britain 01:00:062016 Mo Farah Great Britain 01:00:042015 Mo Farah Great Britain 00:59:222014 Mo Farah Great Britain 01:00:002013 Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia 01:00:092012 Wilson Kipsang Kenya 00:59:062011 Martin Mathathi Kenya 00:58:562010 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia 00:59:332009 Martin Lel Kenya 00:59:322008 Tsegay Kebede Ethiopia 00:59:452007 Martin Lel Kenya 01:00:102006 Hendrick Ramaala South Africa 01:01:032005 Zersenay Tadesse Eritrea 00:59:052004 Dejene Berhanu Ethiopia 00:59:372003 Hendrick Ramaala South Africa 01:00:012002 Paul Kosgei Kenya 00:59:582001 Paul Tergat Kenya 01:00:302000 Faustin Baha Tanzania 01:01:511999 John Mutai Kenya 01:00:521998 Josiah Thugwane South Africa 01:02:321997 Hendrick Ramaala South Africa 01:00:251996 Benson Masya Kenya 01:01:431995 Moses Tanui Kenya 01:00:391994 Benson Masya Kenya 01:00:021993 Moses Tanui Kenya 01:00:151992 Benson Masya Kenya 01:00:241991 Benson Masya Kenya 01: 01:281990 Steve Moneghetti Australia 01:00:341989 El Mostafa Nechadi Morocco 01:02:391988 John Treacy Ireland 01:01:001987 Rob De Castella Australia 01:02:041986 Michael Musyoki Kenya 01:00:431985 Steve Kenyon Great Britain 01:02:441984 Oyvind Dahl Norway 01:04:361983 Carlos Lopez Portugal 01:02:461982 Mike McLeod Great Britain 01:02:441981 Mike McLeod Great Britain 01:03:23

WOMEN

2019 Brigid Kosgei Kenya 01:04:28 2018 Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya 01:07:432017 Mary Keitany Kenya 01:05:592016 Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya 01:07:542015 Mary Keitany Kenya 01:07:322014 Mary Keitany Kenya 01:05:392013 Priscah Jeptoo Kenya 01:05:452012 Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia 01:07:352011 Lucy Kabuu Kenya 01:07:062010 Berhane Adere Ethiopia 01:08:492009 Jessica Augusto Portugal 01:09:082008 Gete Wami Ethiopia 01:08:512007 Kara Goucher USA 01:06:572006 Berhane Adere Ethiopia 01:10:032005 Derartu Tulu Ethiopia 01:07:332004 Benita Johnson Australia 01:07:552003 Paula Radcliffe Great Britain 01:05:402002 Sonia O’Sullivan Ireland 01:07:192001 Susan Chepkemei Kenya 01:08:402000 Paula Radcliffe Great Britain 01:07:071999 Joyce Chepchumba Kenya 01:09:071998 Sonia O’Sullivan Ireland 01:11:501997 Luciana Subano Kenya 01:09:241996 Liz McColgan Scotland 01:10:281995 Liz McColgan Scotland 01:11:421994 Rosanna Munerotto Italy 01:11:291993 Tegla Loroupe Kenya 01:12:551992 Liz McColgan Scotland 01:08:531991 Ingrid Kristiansen Norway 01:10:571990 Rosa Mota Portugal 01:09:331989 Lisa Martin Australia 01:10:431988 Grete Waitz Norway 01:08:491987 Lisa Martin Australia 01:10:001986 Lisa Martin Australia 01:09:451985 Rosa Mota Portugal 01:09:541984 Grete Waitz Norway 01:10:271983 Julie Barleycorn Great Britain 01:16:391982 Margaret Lockley Isle of Man 01:19:241981 Karen Goldhawk Great Britain 01:17:36

GREAT NORTH RUNROLL OF HONOURWHEELCHAIR - MEN

2018 David Weir Great Britain 00:41:192017 Simon Lawson Great Britain 00:44:222016 Mark Telford Great Britain 00:49:022015 David Weir Great Britain 00:42:462014 Jordi Madeira Spain 00:43:022013 David Weir Great Britain 00:43:062012 Josh Cassidy Canada 00:43:182011 Josh Cassidy Canada 00:43:572010 David Weir Great Britain 00:44:492009 David Weir Great Britain 00:41:342008 Josh Cassidy Canada 00:44:102007 Ernst Van Dyk South Africa 00:42:362006 Kurt Fearley Australia 00:42:382005 David Weir Great Britain 00:42:352004 Kenny Herriot Great Britain 00:45:372003 David Weir Great Britain 00:45:412002 Tushar Patel Great Britain 00:48:462001 Tushar Patel Great Britain 00:48:102000 Kevin Papworth Great Britain 00:49:181999 Hadj Lahmar Great Britain 00:49:571998 Hadj Lahmar Great Britain 00:53:471997 David Holding Great Britain 00:44:221996 David Holding Great Britain 00:49:171995 Jack McKenna Great Britain 00:52:161994 David Holding Great Britain 00:50:331993 Ivan Newman Great Britain 00:54:111992 David Holding Great Britain 00:50:211991 David Holding Great Britain 00:47:241990 Chris Hallam Great Britain 00:56:321989 Chris Hallam Great Britain 01:01:401988 David Holding Great Britain 00:57:571987 Chris Hallam Great Britain 00:56:371986 Chris Hallam Great Britain 01:01:151985 Mark Tong Great Britain 01:17:181984 Terry Clark Great Britain 01:10:281983 John Grant Great Britain 01:17:161982 Alan Robinson Great Britain 01:32:001981 Alan Robinson Great Britain 01:28:54

WHEELCHAIR - WOMEN

2018 Martyna Snopek Great Britain 01:03:022017 Sammi Kinghorn Great Britain 00:52:48 2016 n/a n/a n/a2015 Shelley Woods Great Britain 00:53:582014 Shelley Woods Great Britain 00:50:342013 Shelley Woods Great Britain 00:54:382012 Jane Egan Great Britain 01:15:002011 Shelley Woods Great Britain 00:50:142010 Shelley Woods Great Britain 00:52:592009 Amanda McGrory USA 00:49:472008 Diana Roy Canada 00:51:102007 Shelley Woods Great Britain 00:50:362006 Diana Roy Canada 00:50:332005 Shelly Woods Great Britain 00:50:072004 Gunilla Wallengren Sweden 00:52:142003 Gunilla Wallengren Sweden 00:53:042002 Gunilla Wallengren Sweden 00:57:472001 Gunilla Wallengren Sweden 00:52:592000 Sarah Piercey Great Britain 01:13:32 1999 Tanni Grey Thompson Great Britain 01:02:32 1998 Tanni Grey Great Britain 01:10:58 1997 Tanni Grey Great Britain 00:52:171996 Tanni Grey Great Britain 00:57:171995 Tanni Grey Great Britain 00:58:441994 Rose Hill Great Britain 01:00:411993 Rose Hill Great Britain 00:58:001992 Tanni Grey Great Britain 00:59:211991 Tanni Grey Great Britain 01:00:221990 Tanni Grey Great Britain 01:05:081989 Eileen Dixon Great Britain 02:06:541988 Josie Cichockyj Great Britain 01:37:381987 Karen Davidson Great Britain 01:19:551986 Karen Davidson Great Britain 01:13:041985 Anne Graham Great Britain 02:26:531984 Ellen Hodgson Great Britain 02:50:421983 Maria Dodsworth Great Britain 02:27:29

GREAT NORTH RUNNOTE TO EDITORSThe Great Run CompanyAs the UK’s original running events series, we know a thing or two about motivation. Over the last three decades we’ve realised it doesn’t matter why people run or how far they go - the one thing every runner has in common is that moment of triumph when they cross the line. We want everyone to experience that feeling, so we’ll do whatever we can to help our customers achieve their goal and be their greatest.

Starting with the very first Great North Run in 1981, our events have always been a celebration of what makes our locations great. The Great Run Series now sees 230,000 participants a year taking part. The events programme stretches across the UK from Glasgow to Portsmouth offering a full range of distances from 5k through to the half marathon. Great Run Local is a series of weekly events staged in our key cities. All designed to provide the support and advice for participants of all abilities to achieve their personal goal.

To find out more about the events and services provided by Great Run and its partners visitwww.greatrun.org