JUSTINA Heslop made it a hat-trick of Blaydon Race victories with a dominant performance over the famous course to give the event a homegrown winner.
However there was heartbreak for Ryan McLeod, who led for much of the men’s race before slipping back to fourth in the final 500 metres. Heslop, who races for Clapham Chasers after moving to London for work reasons, admitted she had made the Blaydon Race a priority at the start of the season and was delighted to make it three wins in a row.
It was another excellent performance from the 32-year-old on her return to Tyneside and, despite a stiff challenge from Ethiopian Edinah Kwanbaim, she pulled clear midway through the race and extended her lead over the final mile, finishing 21 seconds clear.
Heslop said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I always say this is coming home for me and it’s a very special race for me.
“I may live in London now but I definitely consider myself a Geordie and the support, as ever, was fantastic. I’ll be back to try and make it four next year. I just said to myself at the start not to be scared of anyone and to give it a real go.
“I had no idea how far ahead I was at the end, I never look back so I thought the other girl was on my shoulder.”
Her joy was in stark contrast to a deflated McLeod, who is yet to emulate father Mike, winner of the first Blaydon Race in 1981, just one of six memorable victories. McLeod took the lead early in the race, before slipping back to fourth. He seized the advantage again at the halfway stage and at one point held a lead of several metres over the African trio.
But, with the finishing line in sight, the former Elswick Harrier kicked too early and paid the price, running out of gas as the Africans past him.
Pre-race favourite Edwin Kipkorir eventually crossed the line first, the Birchfield Harrier winning comfortably from fellow Ethopian Tami Shiferaw and another African, Victoria Park’s Edwin Kiptoo.
McLeod said: “I’m pretty disappointed and deflated. I finished fourth last year and under-performed and I feel as though I’ve done so again, even though the time was a lot quicker this year.
“I thought I could win it. I was in a good position but they were bunched up behind me waiting to pounce.
“It was difficult to know where they were and how quickly they were moving. It was windy out there which didn’t help. “I probably kicked a little too early and that’s why I’m annoyed. I got a gap, but there was nothing left as I came round the bend. It wasn’t a nice feeling seeing them going past me. This is a race I’d love to win for obvious reasons, it’s my hometown race and my dad did so well when he raced in it. I hope I will do one day. I definitely feel I’ve got it in me to win here and I’ll be back.”
Ian Hudspith, winner of the race two years ago, followed up his third place finish 12 months ago with a solid fifth. Morpeth Harrier trio Lewis Timmins, Peter Newton and Nick Swinburn, who led briefly as the field passed the Centre for Life in Newcastle, finished in ninth, tenth and 11th places respectively. Durham Harrier Rosie Smith finished fourth in the women’s race, but the day belonged to Heslop. Having moved back home briefly last year, before returning to London to help a sick friend, she is contemplating turning the move back into a permanent one.
“I came back once but ended up going back down to London. I’m always thinking about coming home permanently and this race always reminds me how wonderful the people up here are.”
RACE RESULTS
Men: 1. Edwin Kipkorir (Birchfield) 28.25; 2. T Shiferaw (Ethiopia) 28.30; 3. Edwin Kiptoo (Victoria Park) 28.33; 4. Ryan McLeod (Tipton) 28.37; 5. Ian Hudspith (Morpeth) 28.46; 6. Issac Kimutai (Victoria Park) 28.56
Women: 1. Justina Heslop (Clapham) 31.45; 2. Edinah Kwanbai (Victoria Park) 32.06; 3. G Tamerate (Belgrave) 32.12; 4. Rosie Smith (Durham) 33.05; 5. Genet Maesso (Birchfield) 33.54; 6. Sarah Tunstall (Kendal) 34.02
