Factpack
Description of the Race
The 1862 Blaydon Races Song is the National Anthem of Tyneside. The words of the song are used as a basis for everything in the race where possible. For example the event takes place every "Ninth of June" in accord with the song's first line:- "Aa went to Blaydon Races t'was on the Ninth of June"
The runners assemble at the public house "Balmbras" in central Newcastle (just as the travellers to see the Blaydon Horse races did in 1862) and are started on their run with the actual handbell mentioned in the song, which is brought out specially, under guard, from The Discovery Museum, Newcastle and "away they gan alang Collingwood Street" on their way to Scotswood Road and Scotswood Bridge to finish in Blaydon itself . The race itself has been instrumental in maintaining interest in local traditions in general and in the Blaydon Races song in particular. The large crowd in Blaydon Shopping Precinct car park welcomes the runners who receive local food and beer and the all important teeshirt along with their goody bags and certificate. Not all of the tired finishers are tempted by the black pudding, tripe and pickled onions always on offer! The race welcomes all over 16 years and even provides the Kiddars' Fun Run at Blaydon before the senior race for 9 to 16 year-old local schoolchildren.
The Road Race has been organised annually by Blaydon H & AC since 9th June 1981 and seeks to incorporate much local tradition in an annual run for all, to include top-rank athletes and humble joggers all "Gannin Alang the Scotswood Road". From just 212 competitors in the inaugural Race the field has grown to 4000 runners who tackle the 5.9 mile course between Newcastle and Blaydon.
The Athletes
The list of winners (Lads and Lasses) is a Who's Who of Regional Athletics with some of the country's finest athletes keen to compete for the impressive prizes. The Lads' old 5.7 miles course record was set in 2006 with the Lasses' best in 2003. The 'new' 5.9 miles course was only used three times so we can hardly call it a record yet - in 2012 we'll be using yet another new course of 5.9 miles to take the finish to Shibdon Road Playing Fields in order to avoid the redevelopment works around the Blaydon Shopping precint. Good competition for local top-liners from around the UK and abroad means that "Blaydon" record times are always under threat.
The ’King’ and ‘Queen’ of Scotswood Road
Olympic silver medallist Mike McLeod is undoubtedly the greatest with seven wins including an unrepeatable three consecutive victories as a Gadgie (Veteran) in 1992-94. The four wins by Blaydon's own Olympian Jill Hunter in 1985-88 outstrip her rivals.
The Records
Kenyan Patrick Makau set the ‘old’ Lads’ course record in 2006 at 26 mins 13 secs with Russian Yelena Burykina bringing the Lasses’ mark down to 29 min 18 sec in 2003.
Winning times over the ‘new’, slightly longer, course in 2008 were ; Lads’ – Ethiopian Ayele Mergesse 28 mins 34 secs: Lasses’ – Roman Gessese, also from Ethiopia, 31 mins 59 secs.
Cumbrian Lass Laura Park clocked an outstanding 33:06 to finish 3rd at the tender age of 16.
Music and Dance
The ritual singing of the song takes place at the start every year and the Hazel Rayson Dance Troupe perform the Can-Can at the start as well as travelling to the Finish to work in the funnels. There can't be many races with Can-Can girls as funnel officials! There's much local music at the start and finish as well as along the course. The unique atmosphere at the start continues during the course of the race and is frequently mentioned by the runners.