Holly Bradshaw and Mark English set for Great North CityGames in Newcastle and Gateshead

Holly Bradshaw and Mark English will strut their stuff on the streets this weekend

Jumping inside railway stations and running on the streets close-up to thousands of fans is now commonplace in athletics.

The sport is increasingly trying innovative ways to attract new audiences and the Great North CityGames has been a huge hit since Usain Bolt stormed to a 150m world record at the inaugural event on Manchester's streets in 2009.

Newcastle and Gateshead host this weekend's showdown and Sky Academy Sports Scholars Holly Bradshaw and Mark English are on the stellar guest list.

Bradshaw, GB's top pole vaulter, and English, Ireland's reigning 500m champion in this event, are back from Rio and reveal their thoughts on this event and where their fantasy competition would be......

Holly has competed in previous CityGames in Manchester

1. How are you feeling about competing on the Newcastle streets?

Mark: "I'm feeling super excited. I get to compete over my favourite distance [500m] and do so in a city that loves its athletics."

Holly: "I'm feeling very confident. Jumping 4.76m in Zurich at the Diamond League meet off the back of a great Olympics has filled me with confidence and I'm eager to jump even higher.

"I know I'm capable of jumping 4.80 at the minute so I'm going give it my all at the weekend."

2. What's it like competing in these events, compared to more traditional stadium competitions?

Mark: "It feels more fun. There's not the same pressure to chase a fast time. For me, the aim is more to just race it." 

Holly: "I love competing in exhibition competitions like this. It's so much fun and different to what we are used to - it's very refreshing and exciting. It's great to have the crowd so close and showcase the event."

Mark impressed at the Olympics and just missed out on the 800m final

3. Do you think it's a good thing more events are being held in places like this?

Mark: "Yes, it's something fun, different and interesting for the fans. The idea of bringing athletics to them opens up our sport to a greater audience. It's great exposure for the sport.

"I think it's also a bit more relatable to a wider audience - more people run on roads than on tracks."

Holly: "Yes 100 per cent. The more competitions like this then the more promotion the sport is getting.

"Hopefully events like the Zurich train station and the Gateshead City Games can inspire young athletes to participate in the sport, especially pole vault. Kids don't get to see pole vaulting that often (if at all) so bringing it to the streets is fantastic."

Holly recently won the Diamond League event at Zurich's train station

4. If you could compete anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Mark: "I've always wanted to race in Tenero in Switzerland or Salzburg in Austria. The scenery is just beautiful.

"But my ideal track would be one sheltered by a closed roof, at an elevation of about 1,000m, with 25 degree heat, and a brand new triple layer track surface."

Mark fancies stretching his legs in a place like Tenero in Switzerland

Holly: "To be honest, the British crowd is the best in the world so more street-meets in the UK would be awesome!

"I've always thought about one in the Manchester Trafford centre. It's where my friends and I would go and shop when we were young so that would be cool."

WHAT'S COMING UP...

SEPTEMBER 7 - 18: Paralympic Games, Rio

SEPTEMBER 10: Holly Bradshaw and Mark English, Great NorthCity Games