The Great North weekend "kicked-off" on Friday, September 19 with the Great North Miles, a measured mile for all to run along the Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides.

Dan Brooks took the opportunity during his lunch break, along with his girlfriend Anna and, although their times wouldn't have troubled Michael East nor Sureyya Ayhan, winners of the International Races the following day, they both enjoyed the chance to run on the same course.

The Junior Great North Run on Saturday 20 was a fiercely contested three-mile race with the pick of the North East's young athletes dominating the sharp-end. Philip Fitzpatrick was up with the pack in the early stages but paid for the early pace and wound-up in 21st place with a time of 17:10.

The English Schools Combined Events Championships took place at Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, over the weekend of Saturday 20/Sunday 21 and Kim Bartram was part of the North Yorkshire team that placed second in the Senior Girls Competition. Kim finished 19th overall and scored 3292 points, close to her PB; she was third of the four counters in the team and her Coaches commented it was "a good solid performance".

The Great North Run Half Marathon on Sunday 21 had a world-record performance from Paula Radcliffe in what must be close to a world-record field of 47,000 runners. There were a small number of Harriers amongst the many running for charity and some had twin objectives of finishing with a good time as well as fulfilling their financial commitments. Tony Hewson, chef at The Stable Door, Middleham, finished in about 1:34 and can now settle the charity debt he incurred via a Golden Bond at the London Marathon. Tony was first home in his gang - two brothers-in-law Andy Wood and Jon Theakston finished in 1:45 and 2:15 respectively plus his father-in-law Alan Theakston in 2:20. Andy Whiteley had a good race, finishing ahead of club mate Taff Rogers who made the mistake of starting where directed and then spent the whole race bobbing and weaving his way through masses of Michelin men and women - not in costume. Sarah Gregory followed-up her excellent run in the Bristol Half Marathon two weeks earlier with another sub 1:45 clocking and Shirley Mathurin, the fifth of five Harriers, was simply pleased to finish.

* www.rzh.org.uk