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Runners passing HMS Victory

Great South Run 2008

Thousands of fun-runners, celebrities, elite athletes and wheelchair racers have taken part in the annual Great South Run through the streets of Portsmouth.

The Great South Run is now Britain's biggest 10 mile (16 kilometre) road race. This year's event saw a record 19,000 participants lining up on the wet and windswept start line on Southsea seafront.

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Paula Radcliffe leads the field

The 10 mile route passed many of the historic landmarks in Portsmouth and Southsea including the Spinnaker Tower and HMS Victory - the fast, flat course attracts top athletes from around the world.

Behind the elite athletes and wheelchair racers, thousands of club runners and charity fundraisers completed the course and raised millions of pounds for good causes in the process.

This year's women's race was won by Paula Radcliffe - the 34-year-old finished in a national best time of 51 minutes, 11 seconds on a flat road race course. It was her first race since finishing in a disappointing 23rd place in the Olympic marathon in Beijing in August.

In the men's race, Bernard Kipyego won in an unofficial time of 46 minutes 42 seconds.

Thousands raised money for charity

The Kenyan crossed the line ahead of Ireland's Martin Fagan and his compatriot and defending champion Luke Kibet.

Enthusiastic crowds lined the roadsides around Portsmouth and Southsea with live bands en route to help the runners keep up their rhythm. There was also a chance to celebrity-spot with stars from the world of television and sport also taking part in the event.

Eastender's Nick Cotton - actor John Altman and Brighton and Hove Albion manager Micky Adams were among the celebrities on the start line.

Meanwhile British and European 400m record holder, Ewan Thomas made it round in 1 hour 11 minutes "It's the first time I've run more that three miles. I'm quite shocked I did it that quickly as I tried to go steady, but I'm very happy with that!"

Great Run founder Brendan Foster paid tribute to the spectators who turned out in miserable weather conditions: "The crowds on the course were fantastic. Portsmouth just responds to this event - its a wonderful event in a wonderful city. Harry Redknapp may have gone, but the Great South Run stays!"

last updated: 28/10/2008 at 10:24
created: 20/10/2008

Have Your Say

Post a message for someone who took part in this year's Great South Run.

Roger Francis
For Julia Oakes my daughter. Despite carrying a leg injury completed her first ever run. I hour 28mins and raising more than £800 for Born Free Fouindation. Congratulations OUR HERO

Smith family
well done to Alastair Smith and Simon Packer - quick AND stylish!!!!

DD
More pictures of batman please..... ;)

Emma Drew
Congratulations on completing the race Dad and Simon. Love Emma x

michelle hodkinson
To the Inwoods - What an amazing day - well done to you both - here is to the next one!!!

Pte Osborne
Well done to all the Princess of wales royal regiment T.A soldiers who ran with 35lbs packs on for the great south run. As for the weather "If it aint raining, it aint training".

amber way
hey uncle richard congrats on doing the race well done see ya at footie xx

Tina Inwood
Well done Michelle Hodkinson we are very proud of you, hope you are walking better soon x

Chris Banham
A huge thank you to all the supporters and people behind the scenes without whom the day would not have happenened. The bands especially kept me going the whole 10 miles!!!!! Thank you.

Julie Jordan
Congratulations to my wonderful son Gareth on completing your first Great South Run and raising so much money for Help for Heroes. I am so proud of you. What next - the London Marathon! love Mum x

L Kehoe
Well done mum!!!

Minxie
Well done Marmie!

Pauline Porteous
Well done Victoria in completing the run in under two hours. Love Mum and Dad

Nanny J
Hi Caroline and Hayden, didn't see you in the pictures but well done you if you managed to do the run hugs and love Nanna J and G'dad Norm xx

Tina Trotter
Thanks Portsmouth. It was fantastic and the support superb! I loved the bands around the course, especially the drummers! They gave me goosebumps!

Ron Toghill
Well done to the new Mrs Helen Toghill on her PB of 1hour 31 minutes

Michael Farnham
Congratulations to all who took part, especially to those I know

Ellie Knight
A big well done to Ryan Poste for doing this run, with my friends from Midhurst intermidiate.Lovee you guys x

Clare kinnear
Well done to my husband and his company Fence Hire Southern for spending three days in the rain putting out all the fencing for the race and getting up at 3am this morning. The people behind the scence are just as important as the ones running

Anne Strong
Brilliant run Adam !Really proud of you- and in such dreadful weather !

Helen Edwards
To Mark Bird. Well done, Hope you did not get too wet. Yours girls will be proud of you.

Jude Russell
To everyone who ran Congratulations. My two daughters Kate and Abby took part for the first time, who were raising money for the Dogs Trust. To say I am proud is an understatement. Well done to everyone. A great day out, despite the weather. !!

Leah Davis
Well done to all running with 47 regiment and a huge well done for pulling that land rover too !!!

Sarah & Brian
Well done Emily on behalf of Childrean with Leukemia. We are so proud of the you!

Anna Green
A big well done to Pat Morris, Matt Bull, Pamela Rymill, Bob Potter, Paul Farmer and who ever else I know that completed the race, WELL DONE TO YOU ALL. YOUR AMAZING,xxx

Angela Lovesey
Congratulations and Well Done to Matt Lovesey & Louise Appleby

Lisa Hawthorne
Congrats to my lovely hubby Kevin and little brother Stephen. You both ran in really good time. we are all very proud of you. Lots of love xxxxx

Tracy Smith
Well done to Shaun Smith and his mates for completing the race and raising money for charity, you are all STARS!

Chris and Barbara Church
We are so proud of our daughter Sarah Oxby otherwise known as Sarah Church as she not only had to prepare for the race but plan a wedding as well.Well done Sarah. Love Mum & Dad Katy Bryn and Jessica.

Sandy Overy
Well done to my daughter Jade who raised lots of funds for the Born Free Foundation.

Sarah Kent
What a wonderful day - my first great run and it was fantastic - I must also say what a wonderful ambassador for british sport Paula Radcliffe is we had the pleasure of meeting her at our hotel and she is the most humble lovely person well done PAULA!!!Thanks to my friends sarah for being teh best running partner and to our friends and family for their support.Roll on next year!

Christina Howard
Congratulations to Jamie Backshall from the IOW. First run and did it in 1hr 22 min 21 secs. Very proud of you!

James & Sarah
Well done Roland Whalley on your fantastic time of 1hr 10. Best Wishes, James & Sarah

nicola ellis
for alan ellis this was the 4th year running he has run this race and he runs it in memorey of my mum who had leukaemia well done darling we are all so proud of u love nicky ashley jack sophie x x x x

Natalie Dixey
Thank you to my Husband who helped push me along this years race. I achieved my PB and he has buckets of energy! Thanks to all those who supported us...Helen, Jack, Annette, Maureen, Shelley and Lee.

Nanny and Grandad
Well done our three little runners, Charleigh, Sophie and Ciaran Lammiman you did so well in the Mini South Run. We are very proud. xx

Ray & Vickie Glanville
Mark - we are so proud of you, you were fab - woo, woo woo!!! Love as always Dad & Vic

Kay and Michael Richardson
Well done, hearty congratulations to Dave Lane from us all on the Isle of Wight

Caroline & Chas
Well done Laura and Emma, a great effort and a better time than you hoped for!

JOHN HADFIELD
Well done Amy and Ella, you have made Dad and Mum very proud, "Here come the girls"

Dolly
i think its nice that 20,000 people took part in a run for charity, special well done to the people who did it in the stroke association, my dad was doing his for that charity!!

Lyn and John Wannop
Congratulations and well done to our daughter Suzanna for completing her first Great South Run Love from us all.

Vanessa
so proud of my daughter Natalie who raised money for St John ambulance and stopped to treat another runner and still managed to complete the run xx

Leah Davies
Well done to the boys from 47 regiment for pulling the land rover all that way !!!! Shame we didnt see you on the tv news though ! keep supporting Help the Heroes !

Helen and John (IoW Hunt Supporters
Well done David Newnham - all that practice obviously paid off.

Mum and Dad
Well done to Helen, Tim, Jon and everyone who ran in support of Luke in Somerton.

Valerie White
Congratulations Tina & Dave Inwood who ran in memory of their baby Jack and for Havant Portage - Well done !!!.

Julie Munro
Hi SimonWhat a star! Keep on runningLove Mum xx

COASTLINE HARMONY CHORUS
Well done Becky we're all proud of you!

Kimberley and Harry Davies
Well done Martin for a fantastic finish and raising money for cancer BACUP charity. x x x

lester phillips
well done to Martin Thomas and also to Wayne Port.(shame about Chelsea Martin - must have ruined your day).

Mary Squire-Meanwell
Congratulations and very well done Gordon Lewis (No.8950) on your superb achievement from Mum and John x

Mar Squire-Meanwell
Congratulations and very well done Gordon Lewis (No.8950) on your superb achievement from Mum and John x

Rebecca
They are all great for doing it I know I would not be able to do it. but a huge well done to all of the thousends that did it todaYY well done!!!

Lisa Hawthorne
Good luck to my lovely hubby Kevin and little brother Stephen. love you both. xxxxx

Sally, Jodie and Tony Hope
Good Luck Charlotte Hope, We are all so proud of you. Love you millions xxx Big Hugs, Sally, Jodie and Tony xxx

Tony & Mary Northeast
God luck to Paul (HMS Westminster)& Lindsay (HMS Ark Royal), running for Macmillan Nurses.Mum & Dad

Helen Newbery
Good Luck to my daughter lucy Newbery and her friend laura Joyce... Go girls xx

Julian Martin
Marko - you rule

Verity Maylam
Good luck hettie, you'll be amazing from mummy and verity xxx

Wardy
Go on Rennie boy!

Jan Pelling
Good Luck Claire,taking part in her first Great South Run. love Mum xx

Diane Benford
love and hugs to daughter Georgina Lewis - keep on running girl - you knew it would rain AGAIN..... x

Ann Dyer
Good Luck Ian Dyer From Mum & Dad

Richard Thrush
Good luck Dawn and Kerry, running for the Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

June Watson
Good luck to Alyson Hearn and Jackie Larvin. Hope to see you both at the finish line.

Daryl and Gareth
Go for it Manda, you mad thing you!!!

Hilary Frost
To ELLY, ANDY & FRAN running for Portsmouth Street Pastors - "straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me" Philippians 3:13-14

juliet clarke
good luck uncle richard running for hastings doctors surgeries and conquest hospital in hastings

Open Hands Gambia (Reg.Charity 1105784)
Good Luck to James Grant. A big thank you from all the Trustees.

stacey lawrence
good luck to amanda doing the mini great south run , well be there watching you make sure dad runs the whole way no cheating

Emma Drew
Good luck Dad and Simon. Love Emma x

Paige & Ashleigh Bone
Good luck daddy, love you lots!xxxx

Mum and dad
Go for it Jo Quade, See you at the finish xx

Michelle Seymour
love you mum good luck have a great day lots of love and kisses from your darling children betty jack martha

Jean Markey
Best of luck Steve Markey, running for Cancer Research. Go go go Steve!! Love Mum, Nan, Darren & Chris x

Fred & Eva Wrapson
Good luck to Kevin (Chip)Wrapson running in the over 50 category from his mum&dad

The Inlaws
Good Luck to Chris Bone,running after recovering from a broken foot !!!

Gill Hardy
wishes Lisa Denyer all the best ,she is raising momey for Alzheimers and Copper Beeches residential Unit in Andover

Aimee Atkinson
I love you mummy, best of luck xxxx

Ann & Roy Macklin
Good luck to Simon Barker from Cheltenham.

Harry Atkinson
Good luck mummy xxx

Richard Gretton
Good luck to Louise Moss and Kate Bourne who are running on behalf of the R.S.P.C.A

Lindsey and all at Airfield Ops LGW
Good luck to Fraser Elliott and Gemma Davis!

Sue and Mike at Stubbington
"Best of luck - we will be with you all the way" to Ian Ralph from Over Wallop. Also for Gail Wootton of Portsmouth who will be running for the charity SANDS which is the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society.

Jenny and John Dawson
Cameron and Isobel - good luck in the Mini South Run. Fiona good luck for the Great South Run. We are very proud of you all!!!

Victoria Judd
Running for Rethink charity.Well done for all the money you have raised.Good luck, love Mum and Dad

The Cherries
Good luck Jack Cherry a Portsmouth Physio - go go gadget legs! lots of dosh to the Autistic Society !

Ryan Field
Good luck to phil connell and his tea bags from all the staff at rowstock nissan

Porter Family
Wishing Jenna Porter Good Luck for the run! She's doing this for the 1st time! You've worked so hard :) Well done. We love you xxxx

Sue and Mike YOUNG
Go Ian Go - we are with you every step. Best of luck.

Rowstock Nissan
Good luck Phil Connell the futures bright but not speedos

Carol Knight
Good luck Jacqui & Emily running for the first time for the Rowans Hospice from mum & all the family

Rodger Family
Good Luck and enjoy The Great South Run Donna!!

Janet Ring
Good luck to Graham Ring running for Cancer Research from all family and friends

Angie Brown
Wishing Buster Brown, my husband, and my friend Claire Bownass good luck for the run. 'Run, Forrest, run!'

Vanessa Storey
Good luck to Steve & James Frowen from Portsmouth. Steve will be running on his birthday-crazy fool!

Julian Hubble
Good Luck to Dominic Webb, the first man ever to attempt this, driving a wheelchair whilst breathing on a ventilator, from all your supporters and sponsors in Godalming.

Surgical Unit, Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Go, Go, Go Lesley from all your friends in the Surgical Unit at RHCH. We are all behind you in spirit if not in body!!

charlie towler
good luck to jon n rob locke from fareham running for clic sargent cancer charity! lots of love charlie towler x

Hamill and McCann Families
Good Luck to Ian Hamill from Soton running for Leukemia Research.

Sonia Cluitt
Good Luck Sonia,and to everyone else taking part. Love Steve, Rachel, Sparrow & Jason

Liz Carter
Good luck to Julia Carter from Milton Keynes - Go Ju!

Hamill and McCann families
Good Luck to Charlotte Hamill (6) doing the Mini mile Saturday

Amber coles
Good luck dad and tom!

john and mary crocker
lots of luck - take it easy!

Dad and Cathy
Best of luck Matt Dewberry!! We will be there to support you!!

Nanny and Grandad
Good Luck Charleigh, Sophie and Ciaran Lammiman who are running in the Mini South Run. We are really proud of you all. Love Nanny and Grandad xxx

Yellow Ribbon Foundation
Monkey Harris .... Team YRF.Good luck with the Great South Run on Sunday and well done for raising so much money for the Sunshine Appeal.

Vik & Dave
Charly, Kieran and Liam ... you have made us so proud running this weekend for the Poppy Appeal and Yellow Ribbon Foundation.WELL DONE!!! xxx

Val RBL Carterton
Good luck to everyone taking part this weekend with Team YRF. I ma very proud of what you are going to achive fo the Poppy Appeal. Love Val x

Pam Alexander
To Paul NelsonGood Luck we know you can do it. Tony and Pam

Colin & Jean Marjoram
Go for it Jane & enjoy!! We'll be there to cheer you on. Love Dad & Mum XX

Nina Harris
Good luck to Monkey Harris running to raise money for The Sunrise ONcology Unit in Cornwall and to raise awareness for the Yellow Ribbon Foundation. Good luck to everyone running from the forces!! x

Fran Skinner
Good Luck to Team Yellow Ribbon Foundation especially the members of the Mini & Junior Teams Rhys, Dylan, Liam Kieran Charlotte and combat bear!

Yellow Ribbon Foundation
Em and Big Rhys ... Team YRF Family and Friends.Good luck with the Great South Run on Sunday and well done for raising so much money for the Poppy Appeal.xxx

Yellow Ribbon Foundation
Taff and Kelly ... Team YRF Serving Personnel.Good luck with the Great South Run on Sunday and well done for raising so much money for the Poppy Appeal.xxx

Mummy & Daddy
Good Luck to Dylan and Rhys Cheedy running in the Mini South Run. We are very proud of you both and will be cheering you on. Don't make grandad and auntie Bec run too fast!

The Yellow Ribbon Foundation
Good Luck to Team YRF! They are competing in all 3 events over the weekend, Mini, Jr and Great South Run - the youngest team member being 4 years old. Also our mascot Combat Bear, possibly the only teddy bear to ever register for the run! GO TEAM YRF!

ONS Geography colleagues
Good luck to Claire Dawson, Matt Jinman and Bill South!

Michelle Seymour
Good luck to Jennifer Hibbs and Samantha Hiscox, two of my beautiful sisters. It's their 1st great south, they will both do well and love it. xxx Michelle

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