morpeth retain men's team trophy at 41st blaydon race

There were just short of 4,000 finishers in Friday night’s Blaydon Race, the 41st running of which took place on a busy night for Tyneside, with local lad Sam Fender playing the first of two sell-out nights at St James’ Park the same evening.
 
An overcast day finally saw the sun emerge in time for the evening’s race, good for photos but a mixed blessing perhaps as it proved to be straight in the face of those ‘gannin along the Scotswood Road’, although this was compensated for to some extent by an easterly wind.
 
Organisers stuck with 2022’s changed course, not one for the traditionalists perhaps with no start outside Balmbra’s (or the traditional vaulting of barriers outside the Cathedral), but at least a fast two miles west along the river from the Law Courts through Newcastle Business Park before a steady pull up to get on the Scotswood Road.
 
Times were fast, however, with 2022 winner Calum Johnson of Gateshead Harriers again proving too strong for his rivals and winning in a time of 26 minutes 43 seconds for the 5.75 mile course, bettering his previous year’s time by over two minutes.
 
Johnson finished some 40 seconds ahead of second-placed Cameron Allan of Houghton Harriers (27:22) with 2019 winner Graham Rush of Leeds City AC, now an O/40, second last year, in third (27:32).
 
Morpeth Harriers comfortably retained Men’s team title however, a trophy that has been in the club’s possession for nigh on two decades.
 
Carl Avery was first back for the club in 4th place in 27:47, and also first O/35,  having gone toe-to-toe with fellow Harrier Alex Brown all the way, Alex finishing 5th one second behind.
 
Lawrence McCourt was 6th in 27:52, having headed the chasing group to Johnson and Allan for much of the way, with Sam Hancox 13th in 28:41 making up the four to count team prize.
 
Leeds City athletes were 1st and 2nd in the Women’s race, with Camilla Mckenspiey winning in 31:04 from Heather Townsend in 31:15. Durham City’s Jasmine Wood was 3rd in 31:28 and first North East female. Aly Dixon was 1st O/40 and 4th in 31:51 and Danielle Hodgkinson 6th and 1st O/35 in 32:05.
 
Some 31 athletes from Morpeth in total completed the course, with other notable runs coming from Thomas Prentice, 30th in 30:18, Andrew Lawrence, 45th in 31:02 and Andrew Ball, 77th and 2nd Over 45 in 32:01.
 
Catriona Macdonald was the club’s first female finisher, just outside the women’s top ten in 11th place in 33:38.
 
Other Morpeth finishers were: Dave Stabler, 138th in 33:36; Shaun Land, 147th in 33:51; Anthony Jannetta, 150th in 33:51; Jake Parmley, 165th in 34:04; John Butters, 206th in 35:12; Rob Hancox, 211th and 3rd O/55 in 35:16; Jamie Johnson, 368th in 37:48; Mike Winter, 374th in 38:08; Jason Dawson, 390th in 37:52; Richard Glennie, 442nd in 38:26; Jane Kirby, 512th in 40:01; Linzi Quinn, 578th in 39:40; Mark Snowball, 594th in 39:31; Richard Kirby, 655th in 41:37; Anna Wright, 672nd in 39:44; Sarah Lawson, in her first race back since injury, 768th in 42:08; Peter Scaife, 1599th in 47:57; Arjan Piet, 2322nd in 53:53; Sue Smith, 2330rd in 52:08 and Norman Clark, 2332nd in 56:10.
 
Special congratulations to Andy L and Carl who somehow also managed to make Fender at SJP.
 
Alistair Macdonald’s photos from the night are available here.