feature great north run hall of fame

2008 Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame inductees announced at recent bash in Gateshead

Honoured for their roles in the success of the Bupa Great North Run (l-r): Mr Richard Sainsbury, Grete Waitz, Kath Scott, Dr Chris Vallis, Mike Neville, John Bird and Mike Tomlinson

JANE TOMLINSON, the courageous and inspirational woman whose head-on fight against cancer captured the hearts and minds of the nation, was one of the seven people inducted into the Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame recently in Gateshead. The Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame was established to honour individuals who, over the years, have made a special contribution to the world-famous Bupa Great North Run. Brendan Foster, who presented Jane’s widower Mike and children, Steven and Rebecca, with the Hall of Fame plaque, said: “Jane was a lovely Yorkshire woman, with the most incredible determination and spirit.

Hall of famers announced

“She declared war on the cancer and her secret weapon proved to be running. Jane’s remarkable efforts raised over £1.8 million for charity over seven years of fighting the disease. Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer last September but Jane’s legacy lives on with her family’s continuing work for her charity.” The full list of inductees into the Bupa Great North Run Hall of Fame were as follows:

n Grete Waitz GRETE WAITZ is a true pioneer of women’s distance running. The fourth

Great North Run in 1984 saw the Norwegian legend cut six minutes off the previous best time. On her second visit to Tyneside in 1988, she set a UK all-comers’ record for the half-marathon

Hall of Fame Olympian attendees Brendan Foster, Mike McLeod, Sir Chris Chataway, Steve Cram,

Charlie Spedding, James Cracknell, Allison Curbishley, John Mayock, Grete Waitz and Barry Smith

distance in the Great North Run, slashing 56 seconds off Australian Lisa Martin’s course record.

n Consultant Mr Richard Sainsbury and Dr Chris Vallis THE welfare of runners has always been at the centre of the Great North Run’s organising team. Consultant Mr Richard Sainsbury and Dr Chris Vallis have been on hand down the years to provide the highest level of medical expertise to the thousands of runners that have taken part in the Great North Run.

n John Bird and Mike Neville JOHN BIRD – Look North’s editor in 1981 and iconic front-man Mike Neville helped create one of the best success stories ever – The Great North Run. The

BBC Newcastle office offered to process all the entry forms, but they could not have anticipated the deluge that began to arrive. But John, Mike and the team were true to their word and recruited their own army of helpers to deal with the sackfuls of mail. So Mike Neville was the logical choice to be the official starter of that first race.

n Kath Scott GREAT North Run volunteer Kath Scott has been at the finishing line since year one. She’s probably seen every runner through the finish system! Her leadership abilities, calmness, sense of poise, thoroughness and commitment are an example to us all.

n Jane Tomlinson AFTER being diagnosed with incurable, advanced breast cancer in 2000, Jane Tomlinson set about numerous sporting challenges for charity, including completing the Bupa Great North Run, a full Ironman triathlon and a 6781km cycle ride across the United States. Outliving doctors’ initial prognosis of six months, she lost her battle against the disease last September.

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Technical Leads Fixed term contract to 31 March 2013 £52,000 - £60,000 per annum plus benefits and car (based on experience)

UK Athletics has created five new posts for Technical Leads, to oversee the following disciplines, based at UKA High Performance Centres.

Endurance • Jumps & Combined Events • Sprints • Disability • Throws •

Purpose of the roles

Lead on and Quality Assure technical development issues in their area • Act as the driver for the development of coaches and athletes on or • just below the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) - i.e. all professional and consultant coaches, named/selected others Own the pathway in their discipline. Technical Leads will help to spot • up and coming athletes through to acting as the selectors for WCPP Competitions.

Candidates will have a deep understanding of the diversity of high performance sport and the needs of athletes and coaches and will have a proven track record of coaching in athletics at a world class level.

Experience and skills required

Inspirational leadership skills, to both athletes and their coaches •

Sound ability in planning – clear and meaningful target-setting •

Being a skilful and persuasive communicator with strong media • awareness

Effective people management skills - encouraging creativity and • contribution from others

Extensive knowledge of key partners - sports councils, institutes, high • performance centres, BOA, BPA, sponsors, etc

Willingness to work irregular hours including weekend work and • regular nationwide and worldwide travel as and when required

If you wish to discuss the posts in confidence please contact Dave Collins, Elite Performance Director, by emailing Zoe at zwmaye@ukathletics.org.uk Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 9 May 2008

Non Executive Director Annual salary of £11,515 per annum

An exiting opportunity now exists for a new Non-Executive Director at UK Athletics. The Board are seeking to appoint someone with experience of athletics at the highest international level, either as a competing athlete and/or as a coach to such athletes.

Non-Executive Directors are expected to make a significant contribution to the Board of UK Athletics. To reflect the breadth of responsibilities of UKA, Non Executive Directors are required collectively to possess a range of skills and experience, some being individuals with considerable direct personal experience in athletics, and others from a business or administrative background.

Purpose of the role

You will be required to offer guidance, support, expertise and • objective perspective on the key matters of strategy, operational management, organisational structure and development, commercial and financial affairs and risk management.

In addition the successful candidate will be expected to play a • key part in the decision-making process on strategic and major operational issues.

Key accountabilities Non Executive Directors are expected to act as unbiased, objective and • impartial members of the Board, ensuring that all decisions taken are in the best long term interests of UKA, its stakeholders and employees. You will also be expected to offer advice and guidance in a • consultative capacity to the Chief Executive and other Executive Directors and Senior Managers as required.

Key responsibilities

To act as a consultant to and mentor for the executive Board • members, in so far as this does not compromise the independence of the NED.

To ensure that the organisation has a robust, workable and viable • operational strategy, including detailed financial plans. In addition Non Executive Directors are expected to monitor the • operational performance of the organisation and the executive management.

You will be expected to attend 8-10 formal Board meetings a • year, as well as other ad hoc meetings and to sit on Board SubCommittees as required.

The appointment will be for a period of 3 years with the opportunity for this to be extended by mutual agreement for one further term. Closing date for applications is 23 May 2008 Anticipated interview date, week commencing 9 June 2008

For an application form and role profile for any of the above posts, please visit www.ukathletics.net under the ‘About Us’ section. Alternatively, you can request an application pack to be sent to you by e-mailing recruitment@ukathletics.org.uk or phone UK Athletics on 0121 713 8400. Please ensure you quote which position/discipline you are applying for at UK Athletics.

UK Athletics is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

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