Haile Gebrselassie returns to Birmingham with a win and looks towards qualifying for London 2012.

He had won and broke World Records in the City – indoors, but this time ‘The Emperor’ showed he still has the class on the roads as he eased to victory in the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday.

 The 38-year-old Ethiopian was back to form with a credible time of over half-marathon distance with 1:01.29.

Making his break at just over half way he cruised to the finish line, with his nearest challenger a full minute behind - Qatar's Essa Rashed in1hr 2mins 28secs with Morocco's Abderrahime Bouramdane in third in 1:03:57.

Gebrselassie said: 'It was a fantastic race for me except for the wind and it was really hard between 11 and 12 miles.

'This helps me in my preparations for next year's Olympic Games where of course I still have to get the qualifying standard. That means to get one of the three places in the Ethiopian team I will have to run around 2:05.

'I am totally focused on getting the qualifier. Today was kind of a training run towards doing that. The three fastest will go to London.'

The women's race was dominated by British athletes, and won by Gemma Steel in 1:12:21, ahead of Louise Damen (1:13:51) and Lucy MacAlister (1:15:30).

Haile Gebrselassie to compete at the inaugural Bupa Great Birmingham Run

Ethiopian running legend and the world’s greatest ever distance runner, Haile Gebrselassie, will compete at the inaugural Bupa Great Birmingham Run on Sunday 23 October.

Gebrselassie confirmed his participation in the international half marathon race earlier this week while visiting Soweto in South Africa, where he is doing charity work for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The event is being organised by Nova International, organisers of the world famous Bupa Great North Run, with 54,000 competitors.

Gebrselassie, despite recently losing his world record in the BMW Berlin Marathon, still remains one of the biggest attractions for global meeting organisers, and although failing to finish in the German capital, he remains determined to qualify for his national team over the distance and take part in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

During his illustrious career, the 38-year-old , has won two Olympic 10,000m gold medals, four IAAF World Championship titles over the distance and set 26 world records in competitions ranging from 2,000m to marathon.

The African star is also no stranger to Birmingham where in the past his electrifying appearances at the National Indoor Arena have seen him break the world 2,000m, two mile and 5,000m records.

Brendan Foster, chairman of Nova and a former world record holder and Olympic medalist himself, is delighted to have attracted Gebrselassie to the inaugural meeting, which has attracted a 15,000 sell out field.

"To bring the greatest runner of all time, Haile Gebrselassie, to one of the biggest cities in the UK for the first staging of the Bupa Great Birmingham Run will be fantastic," said Foster.

"It will offer everyone taking part in what is a very large and impressive field to run with him, and I know from his popularity there in the past, a big crowd will come out to support him and all of the contestants.

"Personally I just can't wait to see Haile running in Birmingham, which is a venue very special to him. He is the number one guy in our sport and to have him running in a city where he's set world records in the past is fantastic and it would be great to see him win the race."

Foster added: "Haile is also no stranger to our meetings. He's won the Bupa Great Manchester Run on four occasions and also had a magnificent victory in his first ever Bupa Great North Run last year.
"Now he'll be running over the half marathon distance where he is a past world record holder and I'm sure he will be looking to achieve something special as we bid to make the Bupa Great Birmingham Run another major asset in our global running programme.

More information at: http://www.greatrun.org/

Gateway Wheelers

It was something of a rare day on Sunday when I had the honour of presenting one of the groups who take part in the Durham Big Ride with a trophy.

Gateway Wheelers are based in Chester-le Street and have, for the past five years, made the effort to get themselves down to the DBR and take part in all of the distances – 3, 10 and the 25 miler.

Seeing, at first hand, the work that goes on down there –using and adapting cycles so that all the kids, no matter what their riding ability, can get out on the athletics track and enjoy the safe environment, confirmed why we decided they should get the Business Challenge Award this year.

We give this award to groups or companies who make the most of the Durham Big Ride day.  This has previously gone to Henderson Doors, a company that has had its fair share of problems (haven’t we all) in recent years. 

What they do is make a weekend of it and get some of their employees from Holland and Ireland to come over and take part as well as a bit of ‘social networking’.

Last year the Durham Fire and rescue took the shield home as they have put the Durham Big Ride and The Beast, as part of their fitness regime.  There is a fair few of them doing both events and enjoying it as well!

This year, little Grace McGlone had the ‘pleasure’ of accepting the Business Challenge Shield from me at their session.  She remembered that it was me who gave her the T-shirt and medal for completing the 3 miler this year.  Yes, that face is one you DON’T forget in a hurry!

Brian Millar who runs the club told me: “We have been a registered charity since 2000 and now have around 150 members.  We enter DBR because it is a fun event that we can take part in as equals, the range of rides mean that our members can choose the length that suits them and it also raises valuable sponsorship for our organisation.”

Dive in for 2012 British Gas Great Swims

Swimmers should get ready to dive in for the British Gas Great Swim Series 2012, Europe’s largest open water mass participation event, as online entries are now open for the following three events:

·        The British Gas Great East Swim, Alton Water Park, Suffolk,  Saturday 16 June

Half-mile, 1-mile and 2-mile courses

·        The British Gas Great North Swim, Lake Windermere, Cumbria, Friday 22^nd, Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th June

Half-mile, 1-mile and 2-mile courses

·        The British Gas Great Manchester Swim, Salford Quays, Sunday 1^st July

1-mile urban course

Earlier this year, the flagship of the series, The British Gas Great North Swim, reached full-capacity weeks before it was staged, with over 10,000 swimmers taking to the waters of Windermere.

The British Gas Great Swim Series 2011 attracted a record number of swimmers – 22,000 who signed up for the five events staged in outdoor locations by Nova International in London, Salford, Cumbria, Suffolk and Scotland.

The mass race swimmers were able to swim in the wake of world-class elite open water swimmers such as Great Britain’s Keri-Anne Payne, the world 10k open water champion, and nine-time world champion Thomas Lurz – who won the 2011 Salford and Suffolk events.  The duo, plus a host of other world-class swimmers are expected to compete in Great Swim events next year, in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Entrants can apply to enter the British Gas Great East, Great North and Great Manchester Swims by visiting http://www.greatswim.org/. Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Things are sent to try you!

After the massive weekend - including what felt like hours of interviews on the Friday, the Great North Run was once again a great success.
There is a great bunch of people work on the whole weekend of events.  Far too many to mention of course, but my mate Dickie was around and did a sterling job just getting on with things and making sure 'the swan looked calm while the feet below the surface were going at 200 miles an hour'.

Looking after the snappers at the event is always good fun- if a little hectic! 

On the Sunday morning of the Great North Run the atmosphere is unique to say the lease.  If you haven't had the chance to sample it, get up there even if you are not running or interested, it is worth the trek up there.
For me the start is a chance for a quick chat with some of the cleebs who are good runners and the ones who come along to jog and enjoy the day for what it is.

Chris Chittle and Tony Orpenshaw ( two leads from the soap Emmerdale) are also good fun and Tony is not a bad runner with regular 1.30 for half marathon and around 3 hours for the full 26.2 miles.

Nell McAndrew, model, TV presenter and general all round great person is also someone I come into contact with around 3 or 4 times a year through running and is always happy to chat about stuff as well as knocking out 1.25 or so for the run ( even dressed as batwoman this year she still managed a sub 1.30!)

As I say in the title, things are sent ... and this week was a toughie!
After the troubles I have had over the past 6 weeks or so, emotions were, I thought, sorted out but the sight of thousands of people running / jogging / strolling the race - looking to get through in 3 hours did get to me a bit. 

Nell caught it straight away and another great friend of mine Pat Darling from Marie Curie Cancer Care also saw right through me.  I was glad to work the day and glad to get back home.

Just recently, I have found out about a few other people - both good things and bad. 

I was trying to sort out a gig for a couple of mates of mine and was well and truly 'stitched -up' by someone who I have always been wary of but try and do a fair deal.  Made me look a bit of a idiot but know better from now on.

Another one is that a project I was working on regarding a panto in Durham City has went to the wall beacuse of finance backers getting into trouble through other business ventures.  Big shame as the cast were well up for the show - based in a big top on the the riverside in the City.

NB one to watch for next year.  Charlotte Dawson.  She is the daughter of Les Dawson and is now making a name for herself in the world of showbiz.
Apart from that - everthing is fine! Meg the dog is happy - well getting older and just as grumpy, England are still in the Rugby World Cup and after the troubles of the past few months I am starting to get back to chatting with clients and friends again.

Keep Smilin'

New start

Hello and welcome to my blog site that will become an important part of the Ed Tutty Communications Website.
It is the place where I will try and get all of my press releases up - and pictures as well.  Along with them, I will, on occasion, put some personal stuff up - but not much as my life isn't that interesting!

Happy days and come back when you like.