The heat is on for Blaydon racers
Jun 9 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
BLAYDON Race organiser Bob Houston believes today’s field will be one of the strongest ever assembled for the event which retains a unique status in world athletics.
Based on Geordie Ridley’s 1862 Blaydon Races song, which describes a journey from Newcastle to Blaydon to a race meeting, Houston feels the event’s popularity – all 4,000 entries have once again been filled – is partly down to tradition as well as the fact they can offer generous prize money. Despite a few changes in 2008, including the change of the main sponsor from Nike to Mizuno and the extension of the route from 5.7 to 5.9 miles, Houston is anticipating another thrilling evening on Tyneside, with local athletes mixing with some of the world’s best over the famous old course.
Houston said: “If anything we are going to have a better field this year than we did last year, when it was a really strong field. It’s a popular event, partly because of the atmosphere the runners generate and partly because we ensure the prize money is good. It’s a race with a local character and an international flavour. We have lots of elite athletes from all over the world, but we also have things like Geordie Awards for the first three local runners who finish.
“It’s the runners who generate the atmosphere. I think people really like the idea of doing something that brings the Blaydon Races song to life, it really brings out the best in people on the day.”
Local interest will centre on the battle between Morpeth Harrier Ian Hudspith and Sunderland’s Mark Hood, who finished third and fifth respectively last year. They will be competing against a host of top Africans, including Mohammed Yacuub, Abdul Aziz Rahaman, Zak Kihara, Ayele Mergessa and Williard Chinhanu.
In the women’s event, Chester-le-Street’s Alyson Dixon will go head to head with Kendal’s Sarah Tunstall and Rebecca Robinson, as well as 16-year-old Cumbrian Laura Park, the English schools cross country champion. Kenya’s Caroline Cheptonui, Tanzania’s Banuelia Katesigwa and Ethopian Roman Gessese are the pick of the African competitors.
Houston is expecting large crowds to turn out to watch the race, although he suspects the domestic-based athletes will hope it is a little cooler today than it was yesterday. He said: “The weather forecast is good for the day. It really has been very warm, but if anything, it could be even hotter tomorrow which will make the route tougher than usual.” Houston also praised the event’s new sponsors, who have taken over from Nike following a ten-year association with the event, for the way they have worked with the organisers despite a few teething problems.
He added: “I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s hard work. We’ve had new sponsors this year in Mizuno and this is their first event so we have had to work differently with them. They have had to get used to us and we have had to get used to them, but it’s gone well and we’re really looking forward to another special race.”
At the finish in Blaydon, as well as prize money for the highest finishers, runners will also receive local food and drink including beer, black pudding, tripe and pickled onions.
The event will also have its own special awards, including the Me and Wor Lass Trophy for the first married couple to cross the line, trophies for the first lad and first lass and the Geordie awards for the first local athletes. A female runner is also chosen at the beginning of the race to wear the Blaydon Belle Sash.
A REPORT of the race will appear in tomorrow’s Journal will full results to be published on June 17.
