26/02/2026
Everyone at Sunderland Harriers has been overwhelmed by the response to last week’s tribute to Kevin Carr, so Michael thought he would share some more memories about his friend of 47 years. Please continue to share your memories of Kevin in the comments. Thank you very much for all of the kind words and condolences last week. 💙
* Second and final part of Michael Hill’s tribute to Kevin Carr *
Kevin joined Sunderland Harriers as a 15-year-old in May 1960. He was a prominent athlete winning North East Track titles as senior. In the very early 1970s he organised the first Harrier League, hosted by our club at Barnes Park extensions, and in 1973 became club secretary. As secretary, Kevin took responsibility for organising our annual road races at Grindon, then Ryhope, which would eventually become the Farringdon XC races. Kevin also organised the Silksworth Old Pit Races, a Wednesday night race with a real community feel that attracted world class runners such as Mike McLeod and Brendan Foster. This race evolved into our annual 5k race as a result of policing costs on the open road. In 1991 Kevin had the inspired idea of having a race up and around our city’s most famous landmark, Penshaw. Monument. It is a testament to Kevin's vision that these races have continued annually. As well as promoting athletics in Sunderland, the revenue generated has helped fund Sunderland Harriers existence over the past fifty plus years, thus allowing the opportunity for people in the area to compete and enjoy the sport.
In 1990, Kevin worked alongside the council to arrange a special handicap mile featuring world record holder David Moorcroft. The event was a huge success with thousands attending. The exciting, close race that ensued was due to the event handicapper, Kevin Carr.
Kevin coached middle distance for almost thirty years, with three English Schools Champions: Graham Smith, Kelvin Newton and Stewart Matheson. Kelvin Newton was a three time AAA Champion. Graham Smith became the first Sunderland Harrier since 1927 to win the Senior Men's North Eastern XC championship in 1984. Brian Rushworth competed for GB in the World XC championships in 1990, won the Inter Counties XC in 1990, the Northern XC in 1989 and a record ten North East XC titles under Kevin's guidance.
The results are impressive, but beyond that it was Kevin, as the young athletes’ coach, who drove to Reading and back on a Thursday evening and to Manchester and back on a Tuesday evening. Each time he had with him a car full of young athletes, giving them the opportunity to compete against the best athletes in the country. Kevin’s weekends were often spent in various far flung parts of the country, in his own time, often at the expense of his family life, and at his own expense, to give the young athletes he coached opportunities that they otherwise would not have had.
Kevin was a committee member for the North Eastern Counties for 45 years 1978-2023. For many years he was permit secretary, responsible for issuing permits for events as long as the organisers abided by certain conditions. Kevin also officiated at events on the road, track and XC in all weathers, often as race referee, to ensure the safety of competitors and that fair play was upheld.
In 1985, Kevin took over as the local athletics correspondent for the Sunderland Echo and for four decades reported on local athletics on a weekly basis. I can't think of anyone who has done more to promote athletics and it's positive benefits in the North East England. Many young members of Sunderland Harriers, and other clubs I’m sure, were inspired to take up the sport after becoming aware of the sport via Kevin's race reports. Kevin was never afraid to ruffle a few feathers if he thought it would help improve the sport he loves. For example, he criticised the lack of investment in school athletics on Wearside, which caused huge debate. The outcome was that the schools started to liaise with the local running clubs in an attempt to improve matters, with Sunderland Harriers providing new vests for the Wearside Schools team, which was struggling financially. The amount of free publicity Kevin has given the sport for forty years in the Wearside area is priceless!
In November 2012, Kevin saw a young athlete tearing around the track on his own at Silksworth, just prior to our club session. It turned out that Weynay Ghebresilasie had competed at the London 2012 Olympics in the 3000m Steeplechase, and had applied for asylum during the games. Weynay was moved to Sunderland as part of the asylum process in late 2012. Kevin soon took him under his wing and invited him to join Sunderland Harriers. Kevin helped coach Weynay and took him to training sessions around the city, helped organise a food drop off from club members for the asylum household that Weynay lived in, and, along with his wife Margaret, invited Weynay to their house to eat. During his short stay on Wearside Weynay won the North of England Cross Country Championship and was 3rd in the English National Cross Country Championships. The time, effort and kindness Kevin showed to a stranger in a foreign land was typical of the man.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/21368236
