More than 4,500 Blaydon Racers will be sent on their way in style tonight, June 9, with a celebrity upgrade to two of the iconic race's most important traditions.
The famous race, forever immortalised in the words of Geordie Ridley's folk song, is marking its 41st anniversary this year with special guests on Newcastle Quayside. And there's an extra surprise for the runners and thousands of spectators expected to line the Quayside for the start at 7.15pm.
Consett-born world-renowned opera singer Graeme Danby will lead all runners, supporters and spectators in a rendition of the famous Blaydon Races folk song before former Lioness and England goalkeeper Carly Telford will ring the Blaydon Race Bell to signal the start of the 2023 race.
Read more: Blaydon Race 2023 start time and other key timings for runners on the day
The first runners are set to cross the finish line at Shibdon Playing Fields in Blaydon at approximately 7.40pm after completing the six-mile run, which has been a staple of the Tyneside running calendar since 1981. The race is organised entirely by volunteers from Blaydon Harriers and Athletics Club and is the region's premier and largest club race.
More than 200 volunteers are currently putting the finishing touches to the start of the race, which this year has sports retailer Start Fitness as its main sponsor, as well as a raft of other race partners, including Metro Radio, Cash for Kids, First Mortgage, Hadrian’s Border Brewery, Pink Lane Bakery, Synergi, Tarmac, Parkers Executive Chauffeurs and Team Valley Group.
Graeme Danby, who has performed performed at several of the world’s leading opera houses, said that the Blaydon Race is still beyond his capabilities, despite losing weight in recent years. “I’m delighted to return to the North East for such a prestigious event and wish all taking part every success," he said.
Graeme recorded a new version of "Blaydon Races" in 2012, after earlier recording various songs by Tyneside folk composer Eric Boswell with fellow opera singer Valerie Reid.
Carly Telford, who was born in Jesmond but grew up in County Durham, was one of the first female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association in 2009 and went on to be named in the 2019 World Cup Squad.
“I’m delighted and privileged to be invited and involved in the start of this year’s Blaydon Race," she said. "As a local lass I’m especially proud of the opportunity to cheer on and support fellow athletes. It has to be up there as one of the most iconic Geordie things to be part of.”
The Blaydon Race has grown from 250 entries in 1981 to 4,500 today and was the brainchild of Blaydon Harrier Jim Dewar, who had the idea of a road race to follow the route of the horse race made famous in the 1862 Geordie Ridley song, which chronicled an eventful coach ride from Newcastle, across the Tyne to the Blaydon Races on the June 9, 1862. First performed at Balmbra’s in the Cloth Market, the folk song has become an unofficial anthem of Tyneside and is frequently sung by supporters of Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons.
Now read:
- Blaydon Race 2023 full list of road closures in Newcastle and Gateshead on June 9
- Blaydon Race 2023 full list of instructions for runners including dos and don'ts for Friday
- Blaydon Race 2023 route in full from Newcastle Quayside to Blaydon finish line
- Tesco worker swaps checkouts for Team GB at World Championships aged 65
- "This record has been a huge dream of mine": County Durham runner sets new Lake District peaks record
