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In its 45-year history the Great North Run has hosted the World Championships in 1992 and the British Championships last year but until this year never the North-East Championships. Sunday saw the greatest strength and depth championships in the history of the event with 17 men going sub 70 minutes and 15 women sub 90 minutes. Without doubt the stars of the day were men’s winner, Chris Coulson of Morpeth who finally got the better of pre-race favourite, Calum Johnson of Gateshead and debutant Lydia Turner of Birtley, who was brave enough to go off the elite women’s start.

Chris ran like he meant business from the outset and headed Calum at 5k in 14:47 to 14:53, 10k in 29:56 to Calum’s 30:09 and 45:00 at 15k to Calum’s 45:11. Many thought that Calum’s endurance pedigree would prevail in the final mile along the seafront but Chris raised his game still further with a 4:39 final mile to come home in 63:47, a pb by 1 minute and 53 seconds, to Calum’s 64:00 dead.

The North-East boys were 14th and 16th overall in a high calibre international field with Chris 4th UK finisher and Calum 5th UK. A resurgent Kieran Walker from NE Project impressed in 3rd with 65:34, close to his pb,
returning from a long spell out with injury. Lee Davies, Finn Brodie and Ryan McLeod were all inside 67 minutes. The 41 year old McLeod took a break from pushing his friend Drew in the wheelchair, in his preparations for the Chicago Marathon in a few weeks.

Lydia Turner, back at her best after a successful junior career performed brilliantly to finish 8th overall and 3rd UK runner, in 72:47 in her first ever half marathon. A bright future clearly awaits. She churned out the 13.1
miles at an average of 5:34 per mile. Charlotte Penfold, running in the colours of her original club, Bournemouth AC, timed her effort perfectly to come home in second in 82:18. Not bad for a former international 800 metre
runner. Hannah Stewart of Tyne Bridge wasn’t far behind to claim the bronze in 82:35.

After 5 of 6 races in the NECAA Endurance Grand Prix, Alex Brown of Houghton remains marginally ahead on 25 points from his three best races, Carl Avery is a close second on 23 points, with Calum Johnson in 3rd on 19 points. Tyne Bridge’s Jess Eaton is out in front with 26 points, from Holly Lawrence on 20 points , alongside Lydia Turner. Everything still to run for as we approach the final race in the series at Brampton, over 10 miles on Sunday 15th November.

The NECAA Young Athlete’s 3k takes place within the Heaton Road Races on Sunday 8th November.