Home News North East News

Red Arrows will continue Great North Run tradition

Sep 11 2011 by Joanne Butcher, Sunday Sun

THE Red Arrows will complete their traditional fly-past for the Great North Run, the Sunday Sun can confirm.

The air display team’s spectacular show had been thrown into doubt after the death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, who was killed in an air show crash last month.

But the team say they will take to the air in memory of their fallen colleague.

For at least the last nine years, the famous Red Arrows air acrobatic team have flown past the Tyne Bridge as thousands of runners start their gruelling 13.1 mile race.

They have also provided a stunning air display at the finish line in South Shields.

Today, Great North Run organisers confirmed the fly-past and display would go ahead this year despite the tragedy.

And the Red Arrows ground commander, Red 10 - also known as Graeme Bagnell - will be running the race himself, adding an extra poignancy to the display.

“The Red Arrows have become synonymous with the Great North Run over the years,” said David Hart, communications director at Nova International, who organise the run.

Keep up to date with the news. Sign up for News Alerts

Have your say on the latest news and sport in our Forums