Blyth Sands Race 2017

Morpeth Harriers at the Blyth Sands Race on Sunday 3rd December 2017

Weak Winter sunshine and unseasonably mild conditions - that would have seemed impossible only days previously in the midst of the snowfalls that descended on the North East - greeted the 176 runners at the 58th Blyth Sands Race on Sunday morning (3rd December).

Run this year on an incoming half-tide that made it impossible to get round the seaward side of the notorious groynes without taking an early bath, the race was once again dominated by older male veterans who were able to take advantage of generous handicaps.

Indeed, this year’s race was won for the second year running by leading Over 70 veteran Mark McNally
of Elswick Harriers who took advantage of his 11 minutes off scratch to once again best the field
in a time of 24 minutes and 39 seconds. He was followed home by Over 60 vets Ian Brown of Tynedale
and Peter Grey of Alnwick who went toe to toe for most of the 5 mile course,
with Brown just getting the nod at the finish.

First home for Morpeth was another O/60, Gavin Bayne, 10th overall in 28m 1s.
He was followed by Neil McNanany, 2nd O/55 and then O/45 Gary Hall, 40th in 31m 5s.
With four to count for the team, Morpeth’s final counter was another O/60, Richard Sill, 42nd in 31m 8s.
Sadly however, Morpeth were squeezed out of the team prizes this year, finishing 4th on the day.

Just out of the counters for Morpeth were two athletes on their way back from injury.
Still not fully up to speed, Paul Waterston was 49th in 31m 53s and 6th O/50 ;
in his first proper race after a wretched six months, meanwhile, Peter Scaife was 3rd O/55 in 37m 4s.

Morpeth’s final veteran was Sands stalwart – having run the race more than any other local competition,
by all accounts - and sometime winner, Archie Jenkins, 131st in 39m 59s.

First woman home this year was Over 40 vet Stephanie Maclean-Dann of North Shields Polytechnic Harriers
in 27m 27s with clubmate O/50 Kath Davis 2nd in27m 34s and O/55 Heather Robinson of Jarrow 3rd.

NSP also claimed the team prize, with local outfit Blyth Running Club proudly taking 2nd and Heaton Harriers 3rd. Fastest runner on the day off scratch was Kurt Heron of Ashington Hirst.

Report by Peter Scaife

Blyth Sands Race Results