Athletes power to 50mph underground as the North East revels in its big weekend of sport
The Great North Run was another excellent spectacular at the weekend, with a new record for the overall winner and Newcastle's Lord Mayor Geoff O'Brien pounding along, the last mile barefoot to raise the profile of his chosen charity, Islamic Relief.
There was also respectful silence from the 54,000 participants, and thousands of spectators, as the Red Arrows streaked overhead. Dr Emma Egging, whose husband Flt Lt Jon Egging died in a tragic accident at last month's Bournemouth Air Festival, ran the race, finishing the 13.1 miles in an hour and 59 minutes.
Some of the most gripping action on Tyneside, though, was underground where the fastest wheelchair race in the world got even faster. Canadian Josh Cassidy scorched through the Tyne Tunnel to win his third gold medal at the event with a mathematically satisfying time of three minutes and 33.3 seconds.
That is for 2km of astonishing wheeling, held for the first time this year in the new tunnel under the river between North and South Shields. The race was launched in 2001 and survived a major funding crisis two years ago, to become the most hotly contested event of its kind outside the Paralympics.
Cassidy said afterwards:
I love this race. I think I broke 50mph on the downhill, for sure, and it is pretty special to win the first race in the new Tyne Tunnel. I'd been having problems with my shoulder and wasn't too sure if I'd be able to race. But the adrenaline just took over.
Josh previously won in 2008 and again last year and is one of the top gold hopes for next year's London games. The Tunnel 2K's women's race went to American Amanda McGrory whose 4:26.4 was just a tad ahead of local favourite Jade Jones from Middlesbrough, who finished in 4:29.8.
McGrory said:
I was way behind Jade at the halfway stage, being a lightweight on the downhill, but I came into my own on the climb, overtaking her just as we exited the portal. I am thrilled with my performance and can't wait for next year.
The races were started by the paralympic gold medalist Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson who had to accelerate out of the way. She said:
As soon as they shot off I jumped into a car in front but the athletes managed to catch up with us.
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You can watch a short and spooky film about the race with Tanni just above.
Results
Women's race
�������������� ������������ ���������������
1������������ Amanda McGrory��������� USA������� 04:26.4
2������������ Jade Jones���������������������� GB��������� 04:29.8
4������������ Fancesca Porcellato���� ITALY���� 05:16.5
3������������ Nikky Emmerson��������� GB��������� 05.05.0
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Men's race
19��������� Josh Cassidy������������������� CAN������ 03:33.3
21��������� Richard Colman������������ AUS������� 03.53.3
18��������� Denis LeMeunier��������� FRA������� 0.3:53.5
20��������� Aron Anderson������������� SWE������ 03:59.1
8������������ Mickey Bushell ������������ GB��������� 04:13.3
7������������ Simon Lawson��������������� GB��������� 04:18.9
14��������� Phil Hogg������������������������� GB��������� 04:19.6
10��������� Ross Low������������������������� GB��������� 04:33.4
17��������� Kyle Shaw����������������������� CAN������ 04:40.8
9������������ Jason Richards�������������� GB��������� 05:21.0
12��������� Alan Rayment �������������� GB��������� 06:17.0
11��������� Matt Clarke�������������������� GB��������� 06:49.2
15��������� Rob Smith����������������������� GB��������� 06:51.2
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/sep/19/tunnel-2k-wheelchair-great-north-run
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