Stuart Baty of Grantham Running Club joins more than 4,500 competitors at a sold-out Great North Run 10k in Newcastle

Stuart Baty flew the flag for Grantham Running Club at a sold-out Great North Run 10k in Newcastle where more than 4,500 competitors took part.

The race began on the famous Great North Run start line on the central motorway and followed the first 3k of the GNR course.

Once the runners had crossed the iconic Tyne Bridge for the first time, they soon turned around and crossed again before running a weaving course around Newcastle city centre, taking in a number of the famous landmarks including Grey's Monument, Laing Art Gallery, Haymarket and more before finishing on Town Moor.

It was the second running of the new course with the first 3k being the downhill section followed by the next 7k being the return uphill.

And, although Baty really enjoyed the race, he was a little disappointed with his time of 00:50:17.

He said: "It was a very testing course.

"The organisation was fantastic and the support was amazing but unfortunately I just missed my target time of sub 50 minutes due to a lack of race fitness.

"The undulations made it very difficult but I will be back next year."

The men's race was won by John Bell from Inverclyde Athletic Club in a time of 00:30:52 while Gemma Steel from Charnwood AC headed home the ladies in 00:34:23.