Blaydon Races 2004
“Oh me lads, ye should a seen us gannin”
Kay Lejeune and Charlotte Wright from Human Resources recently took part in the 24th annual Blaydon Race. The 5.7-mile road race seeks to incorporate local traditions into a run for both top ranking athletes and amateurs alike. Kay Lejeune finished in a commendable 2124th position in a time of 52 minutes 33 seconds, while unlucky Charlotte Wright limped over the finish line in 3179th position in a time of 61 minutes 50 seconds having injured her knee dodging a muddy puddle during training.
The race aims to commemorate the Tyneside anthem ‘The Blaydon Races’, sung by the runners at the start line. The words of the 1862 song are used as a basis for everything. For example the race takes place on 9th June in accordance with the first line of the song "Aa went to Blaydon Races, Twas on the ninth of June".
The race began with runners assembled at the public house 'Balmbras' in central Newcastle (just as the travellers did for the Blaydon Horse Races in 1862) giving a rousing rendition of ‘The Blaydon Races’. Finally, after all of the singing the race was started by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle using the actual hand bell mentioned in the song, and "away they gan alang Collingwood Street" on their way to “Scotswood Road and Scotswood Bridge“ to finish in Blaydon itself.
At the end of the run over 3,500 finishing runners received local food and beer, as well as a Nike goody bag and Blaydon Race T-shirt. The tired finishers were then offered some local delicacies, although many runners were not tempted by the black pudding, tripe, pease pudding and pickled onions on offer.
Link:
www.blaydonrace.freeserve.co.uk
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