To celebrate its return for 2022, we look back on the Tour’s history and the man behind this incredible event.  

This year’s Tour of Tameside is on the horizon and runners are well into their training plans in preparation for the four day challenge. 

For 20 years between 1981 and 2000, Tameside hosted an ultimately unique athletic event.

With six varying races over a week, runners took on 52 miles to complete the double marathon challenge. It was named ‘The Toughest Challenge in British Athletics’ and was rarely challenged.

This was the original setup of the Tour of Tameside, the brainchild of Olympian Dr. Ron Hill MBE.

Hundreds of local athletes took part during the twenty years of the event, and with generous sponsorship, it was made possible to invite a host of elite international athletes to join the Tameside race.

Each year every athlete received a commemorative vest and an amazing array of medals.

In 1981, during the debut of the event, athletes anticipated the Tour and were curious about what they would face. 141 men and 6 ladies went on to finish all six races.

Fast forward ten years and in 1991, 600 runners started the race and organisers had adapted to this level of participation. Eddie Hellebuyck of Belgium recorded some fantastic wins during this time and became very popular with fellow athletes.

In 1993, race director Ron Hill suffered ill-fortune. The Hyde athlete was involved in a serious car accident which resulted in a fractured sternum. However, he discharged himself from the hospital, went home, and ran his daily mile. Nothing could stop Ron from taking on the Tour.

In 1995 Bashir Hussain of Stockport made his tour debut with a win. This was the start of a remarkable sequence of three wins and one-second place over four years. This was Stockport’s year with the top three men and the first lady.

Floods of nationalities arrived to face the Tour, with countless athletes from Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark proving a real threat to local runners.

During the millennium year in 2000, the first five runners represented Kenya, Russia, Germany, England, and the USA. Proving successful, the Tour of Tameside was spoken about all over the world.

Regarded as one of the best runners in the world, Ron continued to inspire athletes across the globe and was a hero in the community of Tameside.

Ron was named freeman of the borough of Tameside in 2019, an event that collated around 200 guests including former Olympic and Commonwealth 800m runner Diane Modahl MBE.

Adopting his ‘run every day’ motto, Ron’s running streak reached 52 years and 39 days, during that time he ran every single day.

His immense passion and commitment to the sport is something that people remember him for today, and many runners have implemented his strategy to improve their performance.

The three-time Olympian put Tameside on the map with the introduction of the Tour of Tameside, creating a running festival that truly celebrates this incredible sport.

Adapted in 2015, the Tour of Tameside remains as popular and as challenging as ever. The race will return this year and will see hundreds of runners facing some of the most difficult local routes.

As part of the event, runners take on the Dr. Ron Hyde 7, a course named in memory of Ron who sadly passed away on 23rd May 2021, reminding athletes of the commitment that he gave to the sport.

This year’s Tour kicks off on 16th – 19th June and is a must for any level of runner. The festival takes in the best sights and sounds that Tameside has to offer and challenges participants both physically and mentally.

The crowds always arrive in full spirit at the Tour and make for an amazing running experience.

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