Sports13 September, 20263 min read
Andy Burnham Becomes First Serving Prime Minister To Run Great North Run
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First serving Prime Minister to run the Great North Run. Event drew a record 63,000 runners.
Burnham makes GNR history
Prime Minister Andy Burnham became the first serving prime minister to compete in the Great North Run, which marked its 45th anniversary with a record field of 63,000 runners taking on the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields. Burnham clocked a finishing time of 1:57:34, and the BBC said he was “very happy” with his under-two-hours result as he raised money for North East charity Changing Lives. The BBC reported that England star and Newcastle captain Dan Burn rang the starter’s bell, with the 13.1-mile event running from Newcastle through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields.
The BBC also said the prime minister visited Changing Lives last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping, and it described the day as “very warm” and sunny with tens of thousands lining the route. In the local coverage, Chronicle Live said Burnham’s precise time was revealed on TV as he crossed the line, after he was spotted at the start line in Newcastle on Sunday morning and interviewed for the BBC’s live coverage.
Quotes and race-day details
The BBC quoted Burnham saying, “You see the causes people are running for, all pulling together for the bigger cause,” as he reflected on the event’s atmosphere and purpose. Burnham also told the BBC, “It's just a day that reminds you how good this country is when it's together like this,” linking the race day to a broader message about unity. Dan Burn, described by the BBC as England star and Newcastle captain, rang the starter’s bell, while the BBC listed other famous faces including Chris Kamara and Joe Wicks taking on the challenge.
The BBC said runners were treated to a Red Arrows flyover above the Tyne Bridge at the start and again at the end of the route on The Leas in South Shields. The BBC added that the Tyne Bridge is undergoing a major restoration project so large parts of it were covered in scaffolding, and it noted that a burst water main near the A189 Redheugh Bridge caused traffic disruption around Gatehead.
Winners, charity and next steps
Beyond the prime minister’s run, the BBC reported that Britons David Weir and Melanie Woods won the men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races respectively, while Brigid Kosgei won the elite women’s contest and Zouhair Talbi won the men’s race. The BBC said the half marathon is in its 45th year and raises about £25m for charity each time, while it also described the route’s start and finish points as Newcastle and South Shields. Chronicle Live said Burnham ran for Changing Lives, for the same charity as North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, who joined the prime minister and other famous faces on the Central Motorway ready to take on the 13.1 mile course to South Shields.
In the local account, Chronicle Live quoted Burnham saying, “This is the best sporting event in the British calendar,” and it tied that claim to the scale of “65,000 people” coming together for the race. The BBC also reported that the Mini and Junior Great North Run on Newcastle’s Quayside saw 13,000 young people take on courses ranging from 50m (164ft) to 4km (2.5 miles), and it said organisers described this year’s Mini and Junior events as the biggest in its 40-year history.