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The Ghurkas

The Gurkhas Are Coming To Gateshead!

The Gurkhas have confirmed they will return to the Great North 10K on Sunday 8 July. They have become a popular feature at the event and their upcoming participation will be their seventh outing at Gateshead.

Introduced as the sister event to the Great North Run, the race now stands as the biggest 10k in the North Easr and drew in a record field of 5,500 runners in 2017 – organisers are anticipating an even higher number for the anniversary year.

First staged in Sunderland in 2009, the race was relocated to Gateshead and takes competitors through some of the North East’s most iconic landmarks, including Sage Gateshead, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge before crossing the finish line at the Gateshead International Stadium track.

200 Gurkhas will line up as part of their 39-week training course with the event a key part of their fitness training and introduces them to the UK as part of their cultural orientation programme.

Sgt Dipesh Rai said: “We feel very proud to be taking part in the Simplyhealth Great North 10K once again. We are looking forward to it because we will gain a new experience helping us to enhance camaraderie and sportsmanship.It's a really good event for the recruits to join the Gurkha training team and enjoy such a big day of sport in the region.

“The atmosphere is always brilliant and it's a good time of year weather-wise. The support that you get from spectators is something that makes us excited to come back once again. The Gurkhas are coming - Aayo Gurkhali!”

Entry for the Great North 10K remains open.


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