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Andy Burnham among Great North Run finishers - Published The Great North Run (GNR) returned to Tyneside this weekend, with 63,000 runners taking part in the world's biggest half marathon - including Prime Minister Andy Burnham. England star and Newcastle captain Dan Burn rang the starter's bell, with famous faces including football personality Chris Kamara and fitness coach Joe Wicks taking on the challenge. The 13.1-mile (21km) event saw runners and wheelchair users race from Newcastle through Gateshead and South Tyneside, before finishing in South Shields. Britons David Weir and Melanie Woods won the men's and women's elite wheelchair races respectively. Brigid Kosgei won the elite women's contest and Zouhair Talbi won the men's race. The half marathon is in its 45th year and raises about £25m for charity each time. Tens of thousands of people lined the route on the very warm, sunny day. 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 prime minister said he was "very happy" with his finish time of under two hours - 01.57 - and was raising money for North East charity Changing Lives, which he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping. "You see the causes people are running for, all pulling together for the bigger cause," Burnham said. "It's just a day that reminds you how good this country is when it's together like this. "This part of the world, it doesn't half shine on a day like this. The warmth of the people comes out - the people in the race with you, the people on the sidelines." As always, runners donned a variety of costumes in the bid to raise funds for good causes. Among them were nuns, horses and a pair of ovaries. The Tyne Bridge is undergoing a major restoration project so large parts of it were covered in scaffolding. Several planned road closures were in place across the day, meanwhile a burst water main at the roundabout near the A189 Redheugh Bridge caused traffic disruption around Gatehead. Mini & Junior Great North Run Saturday's Mini and Junior events on Newcastle's Quayside saw 13,000 young people take on courses ranging from 50m (164ft) to 4km (2.5 miles). Gladiators Alex Gray (Apollo), Emily Steel (Dynamite) and Matty Campbell (Bionic) rang Saturday's starters' bell alongside GNR mascot Tyney the Tortoise. According to organisers, this year's Mini and Junior events were the biggest in its 40-year history. They gave youngsters "the chance to experience their own Great North Run moment - creating memories, soaking up the atmosphere and, for many, getting a taste of what the main event feels like", they added. The 2026 medal was designed by local artist Alex Mulholland - known as Mul - and features the Tyne Bridge. "The design celebrates the stories behind each runner, and the incredible causes that inspire so many people to take on the event," he said. Follow BBC North East on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external and listen to Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds. Get in touch Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Tyne? - Published7 days ago - Published5 days ago
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