First run in April 1966, the race saw straight races for colts, boys and youths with the senior men’s relay contesting two circuits of the Two Ball Lonnen, Fenham Hall Drive, Wingrove Road and Ponteland Road course.
The inaugural event attracted the cream of North East distance runners with Saltwell’s Bill Wilkinson posting the fastest time of the day of 15min 30secs followed by fellow internationals Jim Alder (Morpeth) 15:37; Brooks Mileson (Sunderland) 15:43; John Caine (Gateshead) 15:48; Maurice Benn (Heaton) 15:52 and John Hillen (Saltwell) 15:56.
In the latter years a sprightly Steve Cram (Jarrow and Hebburn) went onto set course records for colts (6:16), boys (10:48) and youths (10:25).
In 1967, the senior relay course was changed to include the Denton Bank incline with John Hillen setting the standard for future years by posting the day’s quickest time of 10:18.
Since that day only six athletes, all internationals, managed to dip under 10 minutes with our own Olympic silver medallist Mike McLeod quickest of them all with a 9:46 clocking in 1977. Brendan Foster (Gateshead) recorded 9:52 in 1979 while two years later, Steve Cram (Jarrow and Hebburn), ran 9:52.
Morpeth’s Mark Hudspith, a regular Good Friday competitor, has a best of 9:54 while Gateshead’s Geoff Turnbull holds a best time of 9:56 and Sunderland’s Graham Smith records a time of 9:59.
The race has even seen Mo Farah taking part in 2000 – unfortunately no time was recorded as his Newham and Essex Beagles team was incomplete.
1986 saw the introduction of a senior women’s race with victory going to Darlington’s Joanne Scott who ran 11:58. That time was subsequently bettered six years later by Blaydon’s double Commonwealth Games champion Kirsty Wade who ran 11:53 in 1991. The Wales representative also won the following year (11:22) and in 1997 in 12:05 which, on that occasion, suggested the weather conditions had a bearing on proceedings.
Another three-time winner was Cramlington’s Shirley Griffith who triumphed three years in a row. In 1994 Griffith posted 12:09, the following year 11:37 and in 1996 12:06.
In 2003, we had to relocate the course to the Newburn Business Park due to traffic issues. The new route has seen the senior men’s race dominated by Morpeth Harriers relay squad who have come out on top no less than 13 times!
The course has seen some very quick running with our very own Ryan McLeod setting the standard with a then course record of 10:27 in 2003. That was later bettered by Ian Hudspith (Morpeth Harriers) recording 10:18 in 2007. Five years later, Peter Newton (Morpeth Harriers) ran 10:12 in 2012. Phil Hirst (Elswick Harriers) took the crown running an impressive 10:08 in 2013 and went quicker again in 2015 where he recorded 9:55, this is the only sub 10 min performance on the course.
The senior women’s event continued as an individual race with Morpeth’s Dianne Henaghan recording the first victory on the new course. Five years later Olympic representative Aly Dixon, then competing for Chester-le-Street, recorded 12:10 and the following year, fellow international Kate Avery (Shildon) ran 11:52. In 2012 the senior women’s event changed to a relay and 2013 saw Laura Weightman (Morpeth Harriers) set a new course record in 11:23 which was equalled the following year by Birtley’s Lydia Turner with Laura Weightman posting 11:08 then 12 months later ran 10:52, a record which still stands, in 2019 Laura went close to the record again posting 10:53.
Couse Records:
| Senior Men | |||
| Year | Name | Club | Time |
| 1977 | Mike McLeod | Elswick Harriers | 9:46 old course |
| 2015 | Phil Hirst | Elswick Harriers | 9:55 |
| Senior Women | |||
| Year | Name | Club | Time |
| 1992 | Kirsty Wade | Blaydon Harriers | 11.22 old course |
| 2017 | Laura Weightman | Morpeth Harriers | 10:53 |
Past Results
2011 / 2012 (Juniors) (Ladies) (Mens) / 2013 (Ladies) (Mens) 2014 – Vet Mens / Senior Mens / Vet Women’s / Senior Women’s / Under 13 / Under 15 / 2015 – Vet Men / Senior Men / Vet Women / Senior Women 2016 – Vet Men / Senior Men 2016 Vet Women / Senior Women / U13 / U15 2017 – All > 2017 / 2018 – All > 2018 All > 2019