Athletes inspired by National Parks
Celebrating our winning landscapes
Inspired by Northumberland
Roger Uttley
Sport: Rugby
Former England rugby captain and hero of the 1974 Lions tour to South Africa, Roger Uttley lives in Falstone in the North Tyne Valley, Northumberland.
He played 23 games for England as Lock between 1973 and 1980 and was captain five times.
He also played in four tests in the Lions' back row on the undefeated 1974 tour to South Africa.
He coached the successful London and South East divisional side in the mid to late 1980s before working with Geoff Cooke to coach and guide the England XV captained by Will Carling to the final of the 1991 World Cup.
For 20 years his day job was as director of physical education at Harrow School. He retired in 2008.
More information
Roger is a well-known after dinner speaker: www.rugbyspeakers.co.uk/Roger_Uttley
Roger in the RFU hall of fame: www.rfu.com/RogerUttley
Inspired by Northumberland
Steve Cram
Sport: Athletics
Northumberland-born Steve Cram was one of the trio of famous British middle distance runners in the 1980s that also included Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett.
He began his running career at the Jarrow and Hebburn Athletics Club aged 12. He quickly rose through the ranks, entering the international athletics stage at age 17 at the Commonwealth Games of 1978.
He was in the squad for the Moscow Olympics in 1980, running in the famous 1,500 metre race which saw Steve Ovett overtaken by Sebastian Coe who won gold.
Nicknamed the Jarrow Arrow, Cram went on become the dominant force in British athletics winning the 1982 Commonwealth Games 1,500 metres title in Brisbane and the European Championships the same year.
He went on to win the 1,500 metres at the 1983 World Championships. Steve Cram broke three world records in 1985 - the 1,500 metres, the mile and the 2,000 metres.
Steve Cram is now the chief athletics commentator for the BBC.
More information
UK Athletics on Steve Cram: www.uka.org.uk/steve-cram
