A Chance To Live
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Ready to welcome region's walkers
Thousands of people are expected to visit Darlington this summer as the Great North Walk is held in the town for the first time. Deborah Johnson looks at the plans for the event.
AFTER being held in several locations across the North-East over the past few years, England's biggest sponsored walk is on the move again - to Darlington.
Up to 5,000 people are expected to descend on Darlington for the Tesco Great North Walk, which will be held on Sunday, July 23.
The town is the most southerly place in the region the walk has been held in since the event - a major component in the regional and national sporting calendar - started in 1988.
The nine-and-a-half-mile route for the event, which is supported by the British Heart Foundation, tours some of Darlington's most picturesque scenery, and passes through the village of Barmpton, to the north of the town.
It also follows some of the town's most historic routes, such as Ketton Bridge and Salters Lane, which were used by packhorses and travellers in the 19th Century.
The Great North Walk is a key element in The Northern Echo's Chance to Live campaign, in partnership with Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Primary Care Trust.
The newspaper has been commended for its coverage of the event, and won the title for the best event organised by a publisher at this week's national Newspaper Society awards.
Parking and transport arrangements for the day at the start and finish line - in the Springfield area of Darlington - have yet to be finalised, but participants can sign up from today using the application form opposite.
All entrants will receive a limited-edition event T-shirt, souvenir medal and finisher's goody bag.
Entertainment will be provided at the start and finish line for the thousands of entrants of all ages who are expected to take part.
The Great North Walk was first staged from Newburn Leisure Centre, east of Newcastle, in 1988, and then took place in Durham in 1989.
It visited 11 venues in the region in consecutive years, but did not take place in 2001 or 2002 because of restrictions enforced by the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
The event made its comeback in Wolsingham, County Durham, in 2003.
This is the first time organiser Nova International - the company managed by former Olympian Brendan Foster - has decided to hold the event in Darlington, an announcement that has been hailed as "great news for the whole borough".
Nova International's Max Coleby, a former Great Britain marathon runner, said it promised to be a superb family day out.
He said: "We are delighted that the Tesco Great North Walk will be taking place in Darlington for the first time this year.
"The walk has, over the years since its inception in 1988, visited some superb venues throughout the North-East region.
"Darlington will be the most southerly location it has visited and will provide an intriguing route which takes in some of the ancient drover and packhorse routes north of the town."
Jeff Dawson, events manager at Darlington Borough Council, said: "We are starting to put everything into place, and everything is coming together well.
"It is a brilliant event for Darlington, and something we are all delighted to be involved with."
Nick Elliott, the council's rights of way officer, said the authority was grateful for the co-operation of local landowners.
He said: "Really, they have made this route, and therefore the Great North Walk, possible, so we would like to thank them."
Darlington's MP, Alan Milburn, a keen supporter of the Chance to Live campaign, said he was thrilled the event would be held in the town.
He said: "It is a hugely successful event, and plays such an important part in getting the message across about the importance of exercise."
6:10pm Thursday 4th May 2006
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