The famous Blaydon Race is finally back next week after twice being hit by Covid-19.
The annual event has had to be held in a virtual format for the last two years because of the pandemic, but thousands of runners will once again be gannin' alang the Scotswood Road on the traditional June 9 date next Thursday.
There are some big changes to be aware of this year, though, both for runners and for locals trying to avoid road closures – with a new starting line location and a shift away from its traditional route.
Read More: The rise of the Blaydon Races - and why the illustrious event was stopped
The Route
It will be the 40th running of the Blaydon Race, which has been put on by Blaydon Harriers & Athletics Club since 1981, and it is a sellout occasion – with 4,700 people taking part. But 2022 will see the race follow a significantly altered route. As a result of the redesign of Grey Street over the past couple of years that has narrowed the road to create new walking and cycling lanes, organisers have had to to move the start point of the six-mile race away from its usual spot in the heart of Newcastle city centre.
Instead, runners will set off from beside the Tyne Bridge on the Newcastle Quayside. The path of the race will follow the river along to the Newcastle Business Park before joining up with Scotswood Road there. Participants will cross over the Scotswood Bridge heading in the direction of the Metrocentre, then turn back towards Blaydon via Chainbridge Road and eventually finish at the Shibdon Road Playing Fields.
Some traditionalists may be disappointed that the new route means that they will not be following the path immortalised in the Blaydon Races folk song from which the run takes its inspiration, no longer starting next to the old Balmbra’s music hall or going down Collingwood Street. But the race’s volunteer organisers say that the change was essential to ensure that thousands of runners can congregate safely for a mass start.
Daniel Flint, race director and Harriers club chairman, said: “To get the race on, we thought it was the right decision to move down to the Quayside. It is easier to close the Quayside than it is Collingwood Street, which is a main artery through the city centre.
“This might also mean that in the future we are able to expand the number of people who can take part. We are always sold out within a couple of hours, there is a lot of demand, but we know that the Junior Great North Run has 6,000 kids on the Quayside every year so we might be able to fit more people in.
“It is a shame not to start at Balmbra’s, but it has been closed for years anyway and we are only about 400m away so it is not a totally radical difference. We have had a few traditionalists saying that they aren’t doing the race this year, but that is very much a small minority – everyone else just wants the race on.”
Start time
With the race falling on a weekday this year, it will be an evening start. The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Karen Robinson, is due to start the race on the Quayside at 7.15pm.
Road closures
Council bosses in Newcastle and Gateshead have now confirmed details of all the road closures that will be in place, with a number of new restrictions in force around the Quayside to account for the changed route. Here is the full list of road closures:
Newcastle ( 6.15pm to 9.15pm)
- B1600 – between its junctions with City Road and Quayside;
- Quayside – between its junctions with Milk Market and Sandhill;
- Sandhill;
- Javel Groupe;
- Close;
- Forth Banks – from its junction with Skinnerburn Road in a north westerly direction for a distance of 60 metres;
- Scotswood Road (westbound) – between its junctions with Plummer Street and William Armstrong Drive;
- Scotswood Road (both directions) – between its junctions with William Armstrong Drive and Scotswood Bridge;
- Whitehouse Road – from its junction with Scotswood Road in a northerly direction for a distance of 40 metres;
- Skinnerburn Road;
- Shot Factory Lane;
- Water Street – from its junction with Skinnerburn Road in a northerly direction for a distance of 20 metres;
- Monarch Road;
- William Armstrong Drive.
Both the Swing Bridge and the A695 Scotswood Bridge will also be shut.
For the duration of the event, the bus-only restriction on Side, between Dean Street and Quayside, will also be suspended.
Gateshead (from 6pm to 9.30pm)
- Bridge Street;
- Bottle Bank;
- A695 Blaydon Highway;
- Tundry Way;
- Chainbridge Road.
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