SEB Coe, Steve Ovett, Saïd Aouita, John Walker, and Joaquim Cruz are among the legendary names that race to mind when assessing the rivals who drove Steve Cram to greatness.
But no-one ever talks about the pivotal role played by Brian Heron.
And yet, as Cram reflects on an important milestone this month – the 40th anniversary of him breaking three world records in an incredible 19 days – it is Brian Heron’s name which crops up first.
He’s part of the story, albeit a fleeting part. “I don’t know what happened to him, but I remember him vividly because that was the start of it all,” recalls Cram.
At the time, the man who went on to be known as The Jarrow Arrow was more focused on football, with ambitions to play for his beloved Sunderland.
His Uncle Bobby had been a professional footballer who made 163 appearances for West Brom, though he’s perhaps best known for being the captain of the 1971 Colchester United team that beat mighty Leeds United in one of the FA Cup’s greatest upsets.
“Running wasn’t part of the dream – it was all about football for me,” Cram admits. “I’d been in the junior school team and then the senior team and that was where my heart was.”
All of that changed when he was asked by Jarrow Grammar School to take part in a 400 metres race during the summer – and he was beaten by Brian Heron.
“I knew him from junior school football days but he’d moved to a different school by the time of the race,” recalls Cram.
“I suppose being beaten by him released the competitive animal in me. I set out to beat him when we raced again – and I did.”
It was then that Jimmy Hedley – Cram’s future coach – came over to introduce himself and say: “You’ve beaten a good lad there. Do you fancy coming down to the athletics club?”
The club in question was Jarrow and Hebburn Athletics Club, and Cram joined at the age of 12.
Five weeks later, he took part in a big athletics meeting at the Gypsies Green Stadium, at South Shields, where runners included stars like Brendan Foster and Dave Bedford.
Cram came second in a junior mile race and he was part of a team that was also among the prizes.
“There was a lot of people watching, so there was real buzz, and I got my name in the Shields Gazette. That was it – I was hooked,” he laughs.
The history books show that Cram – known for his elegant, long-striding style and shock of blonde curls – went on to become one of the world’s greatest athletes, and the pride of the North East.
Highlights included winning the 1,500m gold medal at the 1983 World Championships, with America’s Steve Scott in second, Morocco’s Saïd Aouita third and Steve Ovett fourth.
But Cram is best remembered for his unprecedented achievements in the summer of 1985 when he broke three world records in 19 days – taking the opportunity to showcase the Jarrow and Hebburn vest:
July 27, Mile, Oslo: Cram defeated Coe and broke his world record with a time of 3:46.32.
August 4, 2,000 metres, Budapest: Cram snatched the world record from New Zealander John Walker with a time of 4:51.39.
“There was no real plan – it just happened,” admits Cram. “It was an odd year with no championships to aim at, but athletics was on a high.
“ITV had paid a lot of money to get the domestic contract from the BBC and more money was coming into the sport from sponsors.
“I was feeling frustrated from being injured the year before and I was raring to go because I’d trained really hard that winter. I knew I was in great shape.”
That was confirmed, ahead of the three world records, when he raced over 1,500 metres in Oslo against a very good field and won easily “without really trying” in a time of 3.31.
“That’s what really sparked off what I was going to do that season, but it was still more about beating people than the times. Breaking records wasn’t the plan.”
Maybe not, but the records were duly broken and the Jarrow Arrow’s legend was cemented.
Cram will be looking back to those magical 19 days as part of this month’s Durham City Run Festival.
He’ll be on stage at the Gala Theatre on the evening of July 16, telling the story of the three world records in conversation with former BBC Look North presenter, Jeff Brown.
Cram will share insights, images and footage, 40 years after becoming the first athlete to set world records at three different distances.
“It seems like yesterday – it’s gone by in a blur – and it’s going to be a lot of fun to look back,” he says. “It will be very visual, with a mix of archive footage, and chatting about how it came about.”
The theatre date represents a warm-up lap for the festival, which has grown into one of the most popular grass roots sports events on the North East calendar.
The Durham City Run 5k and 10k races take place the following day, July 17, starting outside the Radisson Blu Hotel, then finishing at the Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site.
Paula Radcliffe’s ‘Families on Track’ returns on Saturday, July 19, with family groups being given the chance to complete 10k in a continuous relay, with the emphasis on fun.
Cram remains passionate about athletics. He’s been chatting to me from the passenger-seat of a car on its way from his home in Northumberland to Leeds, where he’s due to take part in a coaching session with young athletes.
Now in his sixties, he’s still racing around this country and abroad as a coach, mentor, events organiser, and TV’s voice of athletics.
Those four decades since 1985 may have flashed by in a blur, but Steve Cram – pride of the North East – remembers them vividly, along with the years of graft that led up to his haul of medals and records.
Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Saïd Aouita, John Walker, and Joaquim Cruz can all claim their part in driving him to greatness.
And so can a bloke called Brian Heron.
