Sharon runs away with Local Heroes 2006 award
Record-breaking long-distance runner Sharon Gayter was last night named as our Local Hero of 2006.
Earlier this year she ran from Lands End to John O'Groats, slicing 18 hours off the previous record time, and the achievement was recognised at the Local Heroes Awards at Hardwick Hall Hotel near Sedgefield in County Durham.
The ceremony was held for the seventh year and guest of honour was England manager Steve McClaren who presented Sharon with her trophy.
It took Sharon, who suffers from asthma, 12 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes to run the length of England and Scotland - covering the 837-mile distance at an average of 65 miles a day.
After completing the run in September, she said: "I just had the feeling that I'd been pootling around, never making my mark on history.
"I wanted to do something really to be remembered by, and I wanted to do it in Britain."
Despite her ailment, Sharon, 42, from Guisborough runs with New Markse Harriers and competes in "ultra" events worldwide. She has been Britain's top 24-hour runner for the past ten years.
The Local Heroes Awards judging committee, which included representatives from the Awards' various sponsors as well as Peter Barron, Editor of The Northern Echo, were stunned by Sharon's achievement.
Mr Barron said: "We believe Sharon captured the spirit of sport. She set out to make a mark, to do something remarkable and she overcame personal difficulties to do so.
"She refused to give in and managed to do something no one else in the world can match."
Almost 1,000 people were in attendance and, as well as McClaren, a host of sporting celebrities were present including North-East football managers Gareth Southgate, Dave Penney and Danny Wilson and former Premiership referee Jeff Winter.
Boro stars Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Cattermole were there too, as was Stewart Downing who has been raising money for cancer research through an auction which has been running in The Northern Echo.
A pair of boots he wore in the World Cup during the summer as well as signed Paul Gascoigne boots also went under the hammer last night in aid of the Vicki Downing Memorial Fund, named after the England winger's sister who died from cancer in 1993.
Sports Aid Northern, a charity which raises money for the North-East's stars of the future, received donations with David Coates, managing director of Newsquest North-East, publishers of The Northern Echo, handing over a cheque for £5,000 and Barclays, sponsors of Local Heroes, awarding £3,000.
10:14am Friday 1st December 2006
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