THE millionth Great North Run finisher has completed the New Zealand race that inspired it.

Tracey Cramond, an NHS worker from Darlington, made history when she became the millionth person to cross the Great North Run finish line in South Shields last year.

As part of her incredible prize, she was flown out by race organisers to New Zealand where she completed the Round the Bays race in Auckland – the 5.2 mile event that inspired Brendan Foster to set up the Great North Run in 1981.

The 52-year-old entered the Great North Run to raise money for Stockton’s Butterwick Hospice in memory of her mother, Lynn, who died in 2013.

She was joined on the finish line in Auckland by her emotional father, Roy.

"I am so proud to be here, nearly 12,000 miles from home thanks to Brendan and Seb, and to have my father here with me was just wonderful,” she said.

“I entered the Great North Run as a tribute to my mum, Lynn, who passed away in 2013. Dad and I shed a tear for her today. But I know how proud she would be of me now."

Ms Cramond will take part in this year’s Great North Run in September with the number 1,000,000.