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COMMONWEALTH CHAMPION GREG RUTHERFORD TO COMPETE AT GREAT NORTH CITYGAMES
31 July 2014
New Commonwealth Games long jump champion, Greg Rutherford, will have the chance to get up close and personal with his adoring public once again when he competes in the Great North CityGames on Saturday 6 September on Tyneside.
The Milton Keynes athlete is an evangelical fan of the Great CityGames format and when he added the Commonwealth crown to his 2012 Olympic title in Glasgow on Wednesdaynight, he made as big an impression with the crowd – stopping for ‘selfies’ and autographs as the officials tried to hurry him off to the medal presentation – as he did with his winning performance of 8.20 metres.
“I love competing in the Great North CityGames so much because of the interaction you get with the public,” said Rutherford. “It’s fun for the athletes and the public can come and go as they please.
“To be honest, I can see street athletics as the future of track and field. It’s just a fantastic concept.
“The crowds are always out in force on the Quayside. We get such incredible support from the people of the North East and all the runners in town ahead of the Bupa Great North Run on Sunday.”
Rutherford made a winning debut in the Great North CityGames in 2009, jumping 8.17 metres, but has lost on his last two visits to Tyneside, finishing runner-up to Australia’s Chris Noffke in 2010 and to his British rival, Teessider Chris Tomlinson, in 2012.
Tyneside has a special place in Rutherford’s heart. His great-grandfather was one of the stars of the great Newcastle United side of the early 1900s.
Jock Rutherford was a right-winger who became known as “the Newcastle flyer”. He also won 11 England caps and played in the old First Division for Arsenal at the age of 41.
Rutherford said, “I always have a little bit of a soft spot for Newcastle but, being a Man United fan, I can’t be too soft.”
The Great North CityGames has become an established highlight in an action packed sporting weekend in the North East. Staged the day before the iconic Bupa Great North Run, the event is once again set to bring world class competition to the NewcastleGateshead Quayside.
Taking place on a unique, IAAF certified, purpose built track in the heart of the city, the exciting format lets spectators get up close to the action, and best of all – it’s completely free to spectate.
Crowds of up to 25,000 are expected to watch performances from some of the most recognisable names in international sport – which have included in the past double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah, Australia’s Olympic and world champion Sally Pearson and Olympic Silver medallist and world champion Christine Ohuruogu.
No need for tickets, come down and enjoy international athletics in the North East – completely free of charge!
Nova International
The Great North CityGames is brought to you by event organisers Nova International.
Nova International, headed by Olympic medallist Brendan Foster, is one of the UK’s leading event management and sports marketing agencies. The company’s current brand portfolio also includes some of the biggest running events in the world, all based on the Bupa Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon with 57,000 entries.
Nova International was established in 1988 and has a strong sporting pedigree. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Nova has established itself as a market leader in the world of sports marketing and event management.
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by Larry Eder
