Great North Run is cancelled due to the pandemic – but Portsmouth’s Great South Run is still on

The half marathon was due to take place on September 13, but race organisers announced today that this year's event would not go ahead.

The Great Manchester Run the same month has also been cancelled.

But at present the Great South Run in Portsmouth remains very much ON - virtually the only major city-based event that has yet to be called off due to the pandemic.

The event, due to be held on Sunday October 18, has been held every year in Portsmouth since 1991.

The race actually began in 1990 in Southampton, but was moved to the other end of the M27 12 months later.

The Great South Run attracts thousands of athletes who this year are paying a £43 entry fee for the 10-mile race.

In 2009, a record 21,000 field pounded the roads around Southsea seafront.

The race has attracted world class athletes from home and abroad, with the likes of Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe, Liz McColgan and Sonia O’Sullivan all previous winners.

McGolgan’s daughter, Eilish, won last year’s ladies race.

A statement said: ‘We are closely monitoring the developments with COVID-19 and will continue to take the advice of the UK government around the staging of large public events.

‘At present the Great South Run is scheduled to go ahead as planned, but we will assess over the coming weeks and update participants as a priority if anything changes.

‘We understand the commitment and dedication you make when you enter one of our events and we would not take any decision to cancel or postpone lightly.

‘We love delivering our events and we work hard to make sure our participants can enjoy them in a safe and happy environment.

‘In the meantime we want to reassure you all that we are keeping in close contact with Public Health England. If circumstances dictate that we must cancel any of our events everyone who had entered would be entitled to a refund.’

Regarding the new cancellations, officials said: ‘We have also looked at holding the Great North Run later in the year. But, as things stand, and even as the situation improves, it isn't going to be possible to meet these goals with any certainty, and so, with just under three months to go we have concluded that the best course of action is to cancel.

‘We know how disappointing this is, but we're sure everyone will understand why this decision has been made. Thank you for your patience and understanding.’

The Great Manchester Run on September 6 has also been cancelled, with the next edition of the race set for May 23, 2021.

The Great East Run - held in Ipswich last year - is also still on, with the race set to take place on September 20.

Also yet to be cancelled is the Great Scottish Run (October 4) and Great Birmingham Run (October 11).