Over 41,000 runners started Sunday's BUPA Great North Run, Newcastle to South Shields, among them six members of Springwell Running Club.

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele held off a late surge from Britain's Mo Farah to win by the narrowest margin one second in 1:00:09.

kenya's Priscah Jeptoo came close to breaking the course record as she ran the third-fastest time in women's half-marathon history crossing the line in 1:05:45 only five seconds slower than Paula Radcliffe's record.

Alan McKeeman was the first Springwell Runner home in a PB time of 1:34:24 followed by Patrick Higgins 1:39:21, Andy Deal 1:41:55, Mervyn Thompson 1:49:00.

Bryan Edgar paced his wife Margaret to a PB time of 2:07:37.

With Andy, Mervyn and Kay away this weekend Gary Watton took control and welcomed 48 runners to Saturday's Portrush Parkrun.

The low tide left plenty of firm sand with a tail wind helping the runners on the outward journey but they had to battle against the head wind on the homeward journey.

Springwell Jim Breen (21:05 PB) and Karen McLaughlin (21:21) were the first male and female runners home.

Springwell Times: David Irwin 21:17 (PB), Ailbhe Kendall 22:25, Gary Kendall 22:27, Robert Workman 23:07, Catherine Bell-Allen 24:06 (PB), Amy Fountain 26:47, Rozzy Skuce 27:01, Ursula Harper 29:26, Jack Kendall 33:33, Marylen King 34:31, Mike Fountain 37:42, Stephen & Abi Smyth 40:28, Victoria & Hannah Smyth 42:45.

Springwell Runners had a few Parkrun tourists this weekend. Gerry O'Doherty travelled to the home of the Parkrun, Bushy Park completing the 5K course in 19:49.

Kay Hack was at the Colchester Castle Parkrun running 25:04. Alistair Shaw and Kenny Bacon ran the Waterworks Parkrun, Alistair in 19:02 and Kenny in 29:22.

Source: Colerainetimes