Member Article

Thousands line up for region's oldest road race

Over 4000 pairs of feet will pound the streets of Newcastle this evening on one of the region’s oldest road races. The Blaydon Race is run on the same day every year in accordance with the song of the same name. The Blaydon Races song by Geordie Ridley recounts an apparently fictional tale of his trip to Blaydon in the pouring rain but has become somewhat of an anthem for the North East and is sung annually by the runners before the start of the race. The 5.7 mile route will see the runners journey from the Cloth Market in Newcastle to the finish line at Blaydon Shopping Precinct in Gateshead. The event has been organised by Blaydon Harriers in partnership with Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police. To ensure the runners’ safety, traffic restrictions will be in place during the course of the race. The following Newcastle City Centre roads will be closed for approximately 40 minutes from 6.45pm: Mosley Street, Collingwood Street, Westgate Road, Clayton Street West, Westmorland Road, Marlborough Crescent, Railway Street and Plummer Street. Organisers have also warned drivers to avoid Neville Street during this time. Traffic movement will then be controlled along the following roads to allow the competitors to run safely: Scotswood Road, Scotswood Bridge, Scotswood View, Toll Bridge Road, Chainbridge Road, Shibdon Road to the precinct car park.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .