Blyth Links 10K, 27th August 2024

Although organised by Blyth Running Club, the Blyth Links 10K acts as the first race in the North Shields Poly Grand Prix. For some years now, the Poly have let Claremont enter teams in the Grand Prix and, following our success last year with a win for The Full Claremonty, sky blue participation has increased from 2 to 3 and, now, 4 teams of 8 runners.

This is a beautiful course along the coast, probably the most scenic 10K in the region, so it was a shame that holidays and emergency plumbing callouts restricted the number of Claremonters running on a pleasant late summer evening. The running conditions were pretty good with a breeze from the south meaning that we had it at our backs for the second half of the race, and I am sure that this contributed to some excellent times. A number of Claremonters felt that they had course and 10K PBs – indeed Harry Mawdsley thinks his final 5K was also his 5K PB (though the published times all seem a few seconds slower than our own watches)! Thankfully the rain held off until after we had finished running, but there was enough moisture in the air to treat us to a beautiful rainbow over the North Sea, arching down to St Mary’s Lighthouse (unfortunately still in its casing while it is refurbished and given a much needed coat of paint).

In the team competition, the first 5 count, so it will have been a tough start for the defending champions and The 3rd Wheelers, who were both a runner short of the full complement. We’ll just have to make up for it in the remaining runs on those cold winter nights.