THE PRESIDENT of Wakefield District Harriers, John Newsome, has died of a stroke, aged 74.
Newsome, a fine road runner in his time with a marathon personal best of 2:16:07, won an international vest at the Vltava International in Czechslovakia in 1968 – a race he won on four consecutive occasions.
Newsome, who picked up seven Yorkshire titles and one Northern victory in his career, was also a committed ultra runner, winning the London to Brighton race in 1974 in 5:16:07 – one of the closest races in the event’s history.