OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY: Week five from Gateshead to Blackpool
By Angharad Hughes, Sportsbeat
KINDLED by the rays of the sun in Ancient Olympia, the Olympic torch finally arrives in the UK after a week-long journey around the home of the Games in Greece. Over the next ten weeks more than 8,000 people will carry the torch – from the young to the old, the well-known to the deserving.
BIG CROWDS: Large crowds have watched the first four weeks of the Olympic torch relay
(Getty Images)
JUNE 16 - DAY 29 - GATESHEAD TO DURHAM
Sports stars of the north-east are expected to feature, with Steve Cram and Brendan Foster two of the more famous names to have started their careers in the area the relay passes through today.
And expect two great landmarks - the near 1900 year old Hadrians Wall, once the most heavily fortified border in the Roman Empire, and the modern-day Angel of North to provide spectacular backdrops.
Among the young torchbearers are Jacob Horan and Abby Knox, two 12-year olds who were nominated by school friends.
Charity worker Ken Allday will take the torch through his native Durham. After his wife died, he dedicated himself to becoming an ambassador for the St Cuthberts Hospice, travelling to Australia to undertake a sponsored climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
KEY TIMINGS - 06:40 - The Sage, Gateshead, 07:40 - Gateshead International Stadium, 09:45 - Aquatic Centre, Sunderland, 12:00 - Angel of the North, 12:45 - Hadrians Wall
JUNE 17 - DAY 30 - DURHAM TO MIDDLESBROUGH
The torch will stop at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience, a recreation of an 18th Century seaport.
Michelle Brown, the service manager for My Sister's Place, a centre for the victims of domestic abuse in Middlesbrough, will be among the torchbearers.
A keen runner, who has completed the Great North Run, her work involves counselling and giving support to women in need of a refuge.
KEY TIMINGS - 11:51 - Maritime Experience - Hartlepool
JUNE 18 - DAY 31 - MIDDLESBROUGH TO HULL
A landmark bridge, celebrating its 100th birthday, will host the Olympic torch during the second of its two days in Teesside.
Middlesbrough's 225ft high Transporter Bridge is regarded as a symbol of the area's industrial heritage.
Among the torchbearers is 12-year old Samantha Gould, who was nominated by her teacher Kieran Thompson.
"Samantha is a pleasure to have in school," he said.
"She is a diligent, organised and intelligent pupil who has a likeable character and has a good circle of friends.
"This is due to the fact she lives the Olympic and Paralympics values on a daily basis both in and out of school."
KEY TIMINGS - 06:26 - Transporter Bridge, Middlesborough, 10:10 - North York Moors Railway, Whitby - Pickering
ICONIC: The iconic Humber Bridge will be one of the landmarks as the flame passes through
England's north-east, others include Hadrian's Wall and the Angel of the North
JUNE 19 - DAY 32 - HULL TO YORK
The relay will pass over the iconic Humber Bridge and more than 200 cyclists will escort the Olympic torch when it arrives in York.
A retired gymnast from York who has represented Great Britain 38 times is among today's torchbearers.
Stan Wild, 68, who competed in two Olympic Games, was nominated for "selfless dedication" to York City Gymnastics Club, which he founded in 1974 and now has nearly 2,000 members.
KEY TIMINGS - 07:04 - The Deep, Hull, 15:25 - Fountains Abbey, Ripon, 17:55 - York Walls
JUNE 20 - DAY 33 - YORK TO CARLISLE
Torchbearer Jessica Hoggarth-Hall will celebrate her 14th birthday in style today while George Conway, also 14, will put aside his grief for his mother Rachel, who recently died of cancer, to take his turn with the flame.
George is heavily involved in the Whizz Kids wheelchair charity as an ambassador and has lobbied MPs to discuss issues such as the supply of wheelchairs from local authorities.
The flame will be carried on the steam locomotive Scots Guardsman from the National Railway Museum to Thirsk.
Scots Guardsman is one of only two remaining Royal Scot Class locomotives, and featured in the 1936 film Night Mail.
KEY TIMINGS - 08:05 - York Cathedral, York, 08:43 - Flying Scotsman - York, 12:05 - Aysgarth Falls, Leyburn, 13:30 - Richmond Castle, Richmond, North Yorkshire
RECOGNITION: Former British Olympic Association chief executive Simon Clegg will carry
the torch on day 34 (Getty Images)
JUNE 21 - DAY 34 - DUMFRIES TO BOWNESS ON WINDERMERE
The flame will briefly return across the border to Scotland and will conclude the day travelling on one of Lake Windermere's famous steamers, the 121-year old MV Tern.
Among today's torchbearers is former British Olympic Association chief executive Simon Clegg, who was chef de mission for 12 British Olympic teams, most recently at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Clegg was among those who conceived London's 2012 Olympic bid and oversaw initial planning, convincing the government and mayor of London to support his dream.
He is one of three British signatories - the others are Lord Coe and Ken Livingstone - on the host city contract.
KEY TIMINGS - 07:52 - Robert Burns Statue, Dumfries, 15:25 - Whitehaven Harbour, Whitehaven,19:05 - Steamer (MV Tern), Bowness on Windermere
JUNE 22 - DAY 35 - KENDAL TO BLACKPOOL
Blackpool, famous for its seaside illuminations, will bask in the glow of the Olympic torch, which concludes its journey today in the shadow of the Lancashire holiday spot's famous tower.
Day 35 marks the half way point of the relay, which started out from Land's End last month and has already visited Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Among the inspirational torchbearers today is 22-year old Kirsty Ashton.
Kirsty suffers from neurofibramatosis – meaning painful tumours grow on her spine and must be removed several times a year.
She has defied her crippling illness to raise nearly £100,000 for sick children and has already been awarded the MBE for services to charity.
KEY TIMINGS - 08:00 - Kendal Castle, Kendal, Cumbria, 16:55 - Tram, Fleetwood, 18:30 - Blackpool Tower, Blackpool
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