South Tyneside's most unusual sporting event unless you can come up with something even more quirky
Ted won by a short distance after 1,100 yards of coal carrying
Stamina, power and endurance were all key qualities which were needed in South Tyneside’s most unusual race more than 50 years ago.
And one local man, South Shields’ meat haulier Ted Nicholson, proved he had them in abundance when he won the annual coal carrying test at Gypsies Green Stadium in 1970.
The idea of carrying a sack of coal for 1,100 yards might not appeal to everyone but Ted did it in four minutes and 39 seconds, beating former world champion Gordon Froment.
Gordon was the reigning champion from 1969 and had travelled from Leeds for the event but lost to Ted by “a body.”
The fact that both men and their rivals - who included Ted’s brother James - did it in the heat of a June night made their efforts all the more remarkable.
The occasion was witnessed by Gazette reporter Bill Bawden who reported on a whole evening of sporting action, which also included the finals of a five-a-side football tournament.
The best of the talent on show could put themselves in the running for the 1970 Sports Week personality of the year contest in South Tyneside.
Bill said: “There must be a coal carrying choice after a tremendous race.”
He said Ted had ‘really turned the tables on Gordon’.
The top two finished the 1,100 metre course in just over 4 minutes and 30 seconds and Ted did so well that he was second in the 1970 Sports Week personality of the year contest in South Tyneside.
To give you more of an idea of what else was happening in South Tyneside at the time, this was also in the Shields Gazette that month;
The Gaumont picture house in South Shields was showing a film called Winning starring Paul Newman and Richard Wagner. It had a supporting show called The Pipeliners.
Over at the ABC, Richard Harris and Sean Connery were pulling in the crowds in The Molly Maguires. The supporting film was Will Penny with Charlton Heston in the starring role.
We want to know what you remember about South Tyneside life in June 1970. Get in touch to tell us more by emailing [email protected]