The Morpeth To Newcastle Road Race (short The Morpeth) was the oldest road running event in England, United Kingdom and was traditionally run on New Year's Day from Morpeth to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
History The event begun in 1904 between Morpeth and Newcastle-upon-Tyne covering a distance of but was later changed to in 1983.
Only in 2002 was the road race standardised to the half-marathon distance.
In 2002 the sponsor pulled out and finance for safety precautions became a serious issue for the host club Morpeth Harriers. The race was moved away from its traditional New Year's Day slot to the second Sunday in January. The last official Morpeth was run in its centenary Year of 2004.
Ultimately the race was cancelled in 2005 and 2006 as safety issues could not be resolved with the local authorities.
In particular the police, who proposed a new route via Dinnington (which was met with much resistance from the current organisers).
At present, Morpeth Harriers host an 11k road race on New Year's Day in which there are over 100 competitors.
In 2016 a new race called Morpeth 2 Newcastle incorporating a marathon and a half marathon took place on 30 October.
Winners
The title of most victories belongs to that of Dunky Wright who scored seven wins. North-East based athlete Jim Alder who represented Scotland in the 1966 Kingston Commonwealth Games and won a Gold medal in the marathon has also claimed five victories in this event.
Morpeth to Newcastle Marathon (2016–).
DateTime (h:m:s)Men's raceTime (h:m:s)Women's race30 October 20162:38:08Conrad Franks 3:16:14Gillian Allen
North Tyneside to Newcastle Half Marathon (2016–).
DateTime (h:m:s)Men's raceTime (h:m:s)Women's race30 October 20161:09:24Abraham Tewelde 1:31:22Andrea Banner
Over Half Marathon distance (2002–2004).
DateTime (h:m:s)Men's raceTime (h:m:s)Women's race11 January 20041:07:23Huw Lobb1:16:35Annie Emmerson12 January 20031:07:48David Norman1:15:36Andrea Green13 January 20021:07:24Dominic Bannister 1:21:16Jan Roxburgh
Over 22.7 km course (1983–2001). DateTime (h:m:s)Men's raceTime (h:m:s)Women's race1 January 20011:13:04Mark Hudspith 1:28:02Sheila Allen1 January 20001:11:23Mark Hudspith 1:25:51Jill Boltz1 January 19991:13:29Ian Hudspith1:24:54Tracey Brindley1 January 19981:15:30Brian Rushworth1:26:58Sandra Branney1 January 19971:10:03Mark Hudspith1:22:44Jane Shields1 January 19961:09:44Steve Brace1:25:11Anne Hegvold1 January 19951:08:07Ian Hudspith 1:18:30Catherine Mijovic1 January 19941:09:50Colin Walker1:20:00Lynn Harding1 January 19931:10:24Mark Hudspith1:22:20Lynn Harding1 January 19921:09:35Paul Evans (athlete)1:20:23Lynn Harding1 January 19911:12:27Paul Davies-Hale1:23:58Angela Hulley1 January 19901:09:14Paul Cuskin 1:20:08Veronique Marot1 January 19891:09:17Fraser Clyne 1:16:33Angela Hulley1 January 19881:08:33Paul Davies-Hale1:19:26Susan Crehan1 January 19871:12:24Peter Tootell 1:21:22Veronique Marot1 January 19861:07:02Paul Davies-Hale 1:18:06Veronique Marot1 January 1985 1:05:38Allister Hutton1:22:03Sue Gaskell1 January 19841:09:06Allister Hutton 1:19:44Angela Tooby1 January 19831:08:24Kevin Forster 1:23:58Margaret Lockley
External links
Official website of Morpeth 2 Newcastle Morpeth to Newcastle at the ARRS
References