Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Great North Run
Great North Run 2005
This is still topical (only just), so I must relate the story of this picture, particularly for the benefit of those who have arrived here via Curly's Corner Shop. It was my intention to try and be the first person to publish a picture of the mens and ladies race winners on the internet, and beat the "press johnnies" at their own game. My plan was simple, arrive early, walk across the beach, climb up the hill behind Gypsies Green Stadium, evade as many "yellow jackets" as possible, and mingle amongst those in the hospitality tent area before positioning myself behind the finish line on the leas. Everything went well in that respect, I focused the lens on the finishing line but then heard the BBC commentary announcing that the elite athletes would be finishing a few yards down the road, just passed the television gantry. Disaster! I was in the wrong place at the right time!
So all I got was a hurried shot of Zersenay Tadesse setting a new world best for the half-marathon as he destroyed a class field to win the Great North Run.
It shows that you need to do your homework and get the preparation right. I think that next year I ought to approach the Council and seek official accreditation for Curly's Corner Shop, it ought to be worth a try, bearing in mind the amount of good publicity that the main website provides to thousands of tourists each year!
The story of the winners.
Tadesse broke away from pre-race Dejene Berhanu and kept accelerating through the later stages to win in a staggering 59 minutes and five seconds.
Ethiopia's Deratu Tulu blew away her rivals to win the women's elite race from her compatriot Worknesh Kidane.
Tulu set a quick early pace and broke away from Kidane and Berhane Adere on a fast downhill section at nine miles.
She came home in 1hr 7 mins 3 secs to become the first Ethiopian woman to win the event.
Kidane was overtaken by Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka in the last mile but fought back to take second.
Tulu said: "I thought it would be a much harder race".
"It has always been my ambition to win this event. I have tried two or three times before but on this occasion I knew I was coming into the race injury-free."
Tadesse's winning time was a second quicker than Paul Tergat's previous world half-marathon best.
But it will not count as a world record because the course loses too much elevation over its 13.1 miles.
Tadesse said: "I didn't know I had broken the record. I didn't expect to do it."
John Mayock was the first Briton home, in sixth - taking over a minute off his personal best and beating rival Jon Brown by two places.
Mayock said: "I am really pleased. I didn't expect to be two places in front of Jon. I can't remember the last time I beat him."
Britain's Mara Yamauchi ran an excellent race to finish sixth in the women's race, beating one of the pre-race favourites Catherine Ndereba.
A snatched shot of one of the leading women, and some of the post race entertainment - click thumbnails to enlarge.
Great North Run deaths tragedy.
It is always likely that there will be at least one fatality in each year's race, the law of averages almost dictates this, with 50,000 runners the chances are that one would suffer a natural death at some stage during the day in any case. However there were more than the average number of fatalities this year, the heat and humidity may have played their part, and the fitness levels of some of the runners may be questioned, but there has been an increased level of criticism of the organisers, Nova International, and the facilities that they had in place for medical assistance. My own observations suggested that these facilities looked ample and well organised. My feelings and sympathy go out to the families of the four deceased, some of whom were trying hard to earn money for their favoured charities.
The Red Arrows
For the second year, the RAF flying team, The Red Arrows provided a flypast for the start of the race, and a superb show at the finishing line, with 50,000 people attempting to get out of South Shields, this amazing detraction helps slow down the crowds and prevents buid ups and bottle necks in the queues for buses and metros.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
All in all, another wonderful day for the public to enjoy in South Shields, and unlike some on Curly's Corner Shop Message Board, I have no criticisms of our Councillors being afforded a good view at the finishing line. The benefits and advantages of such events, far outweigh these trifling complaints.
_________________________________________________________________
This is still topical (only just), so I must relate the story of this picture, particularly for the benefit of those who have arrived here via Curly's Corner Shop. It was my intention to try and be the first person to publish a picture of the mens and ladies race winners on the internet, and beat the "press johnnies" at their own game. My plan was simple, arrive early, walk across the beach, climb up the hill behind Gypsies Green Stadium, evade as many "yellow jackets" as possible, and mingle amongst those in the hospitality tent area before positioning myself behind the finish line on the leas. Everything went well in that respect, I focused the lens on the finishing line but then heard the BBC commentary announcing that the elite athletes would be finishing a few yards down the road, just passed the television gantry. Disaster! I was in the wrong place at the right time!
So all I got was a hurried shot of Zersenay Tadesse setting a new world best for the half-marathon as he destroyed a class field to win the Great North Run.
It shows that you need to do your homework and get the preparation right. I think that next year I ought to approach the Council and seek official accreditation for Curly's Corner Shop, it ought to be worth a try, bearing in mind the amount of good publicity that the main website provides to thousands of tourists each year!
The story of the winners.
Tadesse broke away from pre-race Dejene Berhanu and kept accelerating through the later stages to win in a staggering 59 minutes and five seconds.
Ethiopia's Deratu Tulu blew away her rivals to win the women's elite race from her compatriot Worknesh Kidane.
Tulu set a quick early pace and broke away from Kidane and Berhane Adere on a fast downhill section at nine miles.
She came home in 1hr 7 mins 3 secs to become the first Ethiopian woman to win the event.
Kidane was overtaken by Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka in the last mile but fought back to take second.
Tulu said: "I thought it would be a much harder race".
"It has always been my ambition to win this event. I have tried two or three times before but on this occasion I knew I was coming into the race injury-free."
Tadesse's winning time was a second quicker than Paul Tergat's previous world half-marathon best.
But it will not count as a world record because the course loses too much elevation over its 13.1 miles.
Tadesse said: "I didn't know I had broken the record. I didn't expect to do it."
John Mayock was the first Briton home, in sixth - taking over a minute off his personal best and beating rival Jon Brown by two places.
Mayock said: "I am really pleased. I didn't expect to be two places in front of Jon. I can't remember the last time I beat him."
Britain's Mara Yamauchi ran an excellent race to finish sixth in the women's race, beating one of the pre-race favourites Catherine Ndereba.
A snatched shot of one of the leading women, and some of the post race entertainment - click thumbnails to enlarge.
Great North Run deaths tragedy.
It is always likely that there will be at least one fatality in each year's race, the law of averages almost dictates this, with 50,000 runners the chances are that one would suffer a natural death at some stage during the day in any case. However there were more than the average number of fatalities this year, the heat and humidity may have played their part, and the fitness levels of some of the runners may be questioned, but there has been an increased level of criticism of the organisers, Nova International, and the facilities that they had in place for medical assistance. My own observations suggested that these facilities looked ample and well organised. My feelings and sympathy go out to the families of the four deceased, some of whom were trying hard to earn money for their favoured charities.
The Red Arrows
For the second year, the RAF flying team, The Red Arrows provided a flypast for the start of the race, and a superb show at the finishing line, with 50,000 people attempting to get out of South Shields, this amazing detraction helps slow down the crowds and prevents buid ups and bottle necks in the queues for buses and metros.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
All in all, another wonderful day for the public to enjoy in South Shields, and unlike some on Curly's Corner Shop Message Board, I have no criticisms of our Councillors being afforded a good view at the finishing line. The benefits and advantages of such events, far outweigh these trifling complaints.
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