Race date: Saturday 9th June 2018

Report by Sarah Uttley

The annual Blaydon Race has become a Tyneside institution and the Blaydon Race song is practically the anthem of Tyneside. The race always take place on 9th June so I was lucky that this year it happened to fall on a Saturday.

Organised by the Blaydon Harriers & Athletics Club it’s a 5.6 mile flat, fast course starting around the Cloth Market in Newcastle city centre, heading out along the Scotwoods Road ending in Blaydon.

My mid morning train to Newcastle allowed plenty of time to soak up the pre race buzz and the delayed start didn’t dampen the atmosphere.  As usual, there was great vocal support (H’way pet divnt hang aboot!) from the locals along the route.  The race was well attended by local clubs with a few foreigners thrown into the mix!

Finishers were award with a fine array of goodies including a ham and peas pudding stotty, pickled onions, beetroot, tripe and a bottle of beer! And the obligatory t-shirt!

Loved it, will definitely try for a place again next year.

4351 runners in total

First Gadgie: 26:39 John Beattie, Newham & Essex Beagles

First Lass: 30:47 Danielle Hodgkinson, Wallsend Harriers AC