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Ted Joynson
Ted Joynson, is well known on the region's athletic circuit thanks to a career spanning more than fifty years. Ted began running when he did his National Service in the Royal Artillery after the war. He began competing seriously in the army when he was became Regimental mile and three mile champion, and after his demob in 1948 he joined Gateshead Harriers and has competed ever since.
His army experience marked the start of a five-decade love affair that has left Ted as keen as ever to get to the winner's rostrum.
When Luke Edwards interviewed Ted in 1999 he wrote, "Ted is slim and athletic and moves around with an agility that makes a mockery of his pensioner status. He arrived a couple of minutes late for our meeting on an uncharacteristically warm day in the North East. It is no exaggeration to say that he literally bounds over to greet us. His mind is electric and he has an instantly likeable personality and a sharp sense of humour.
Running has been a part of his life for so long that to carry on in the sport comes naturally.
In 1953 he was club champion after running the 6.25 Chowdene race in 33.58 - 40 seconds inside the record. That year he finished 20th in the Morpeth to Newcastle race and 11th in the NE cross-country.
In 1954 Ted was picking up prizes in the local mile handicap races and he won the first ever Paarlauf held in this country with Stuart Wilkie. A Paarlauf is a complicated relay originating in Sweden, They ran 3 miles 345 yards in 50 minutes.
In 1955 Ted won the Gateshead four mile race and the trophy for being, "The most diligent runner in the club".
Ted continued to run until the early sixties but had a nine-year break from the sport while he gained engineering and teaching qualifications. Ted is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Designers.
He took a teaching post at Gosforth High School and began running again in 1972 aged 47.
In 1973 Ted picked up the first of his many vet awards, first over 45 in the Croxdale "10". The next year he embarked on his campaign, which is far from over.
1974 1st British 50-54 years 1500 metre Championships
1975 50-54 age group
1976 1st British 5000
1st Northern 1500 and 5000
2nd British 1500 and 5000
1977 2nd British 1500
1st Northern 1500, 5000 and Marathon
3rd in the World Marathon in Gothenburg
1st World Vets Marathon - Hanover
3rd World Vets Cross Country
1st British Marathon - 2hrs 49mins
Emil Zatopek presented him with his medal.
1978 1st Northern 5000
1979 5th World 1500 in Toronto
1980 He won the commonwealth 25k in Edinburgh.
1981 Ted won medals in the British 800, 1500. and 5000 metres.
By 1984 Ted was in the over sixty-age group. He ran the London Marathon in three hours. He has run all over the world and has many stories to tell.
In the late sixties he did his winter training with Brendan Foster at Gateshead grammar school.
In 1985 Ted had a badly broken arm and shoulder when he got pushed over at the start of the North Shields Road Races. Typically he fought back and won two silvers in the British 800 and 1500 and bronze in the 5000 at Meadow Bank in 1985.
The high point of 1999 was when he was one of three local athletes chosen to carry the torch at the opening ceremony of his 5th Veterans Olympics held at Gateshead International Stadium in 1999.
The low point was when a car knocked him down whilst taking part in a Marathon in Malta. The routes are usually clearly marked and well stewarded. The woman driver was very apologetic and nearly fainted when Ted said he was continuing the race.
Further on he had a near miss with a bus and a speeding taxi. Ted stresses that he was wearing a bright orange vest so should have been clearly seen.
He has competed in 89 Marathons- 12 London Marathons, 35 Morpeth Road Races and has over 4,000 medals.
Ted is still running. "As a pensioner I'm proving that you can really go for it in your later years. There is nothing to stop you."
His daughter Linda and grandson Christopher Lamb are also runners.
It is his ultimate ambition to run a marathon when he is 100.
Photo gallery
Comments
Ted or Mr Joynson used to teach me Technical Drawing at Gosforth High School back in 78/80.Thanks to Ted,whos nickname among the pupils was for some unknown reason DOZ,I embarked on my Engineering career.He was a really great character and someone my mates and I still talk about.
Posted by: Richard Slassor at May 25, 2007 8:58 PM
His nickname was DOZ because he was the technical drawing teacher and his class room was drawing office 2 [on the door DO2]he was a good teacher.
Posted by: Peter Burke at July 29, 2007 9:44 AM