England give the Aussies a rare hiding
Sep 21 2009 By The Journal
ENGLAND totally destroyed Australia over the weekend in the Battle for the Athletics Ashes.
Top athletes including Christine Ohuruogu and Marlon Devonish gathered beside the Baltic to take part in the Great North City Games.
Pride was at stake in this meeting between two countries that share a historic sporting rivalry.
The tie was delicately poised at one-apiece at the start of the day, with England victorious in the pole vault and Australia winning the shot putt the day before.
Either team needed to be victorious in six of the eleven events in order to take home the Ashes.
The crowd were expecting a tense affair, but England proceeded to obliterate their rivals 10-1.
On what was a very average mid-September day spectator Jackie Candlish, 29, a city centre physiotherapist, joked: "The Aussies just can’t cope with the cold."
Not even the barbecue that was set up outside the Baltic could make them feel at home.
But the Australians were gracious in defeat.
The event attracted thousands of spectators, including Ashes winners James Anderson, Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara, as well as former Sports Minister Richard Caborn, who said: "This event is a credit to the North East and its sporting heritage."
They were treated to some excellent performances. Ohuruogu and Devonish both broke British records in the 150m.
A joyful Ohuruogu said: "I love it up here in Newcastle. It’s been a great day."
Music thumped out of several speakers, Sky Sports set up coaching zones, and bouncy castles, golf simulators and a climbing wall entertained the children.
