Blyth Sands Race (5 miles)

Organised by the Club, the Sands Race is held along the beach from Seaton Sluice to Blyth and back again. This is an annual event, handicapped by age and sex and held on the first Sunday in December, where we invite runners from several local clubs to take part.  This year's race was run on December 3rd, at 11 o'clock. See the article below the picture for more details.

An entry form may be found by following THIS LINK.

Thanks for your support - see you in December

History of Blyth Sands Race  (Article written by Keith Willshire)

In the late 1950’s members of Blyth Rowing Club regularly ran along the beach in the winter months with the local harriers. The rowers club house was an ideal meeting place and over hot cups of tea a challenge was issued. The Pearson brothers, Jim, Tom and Doug, who were all county rowers claimed that with a handicap (a few minutes start) they could produce a team that would beat the runners. The race was to be run from Blyth Harbour across the bay to Seaton Sluice, around an upright oar, then back – a distance of about five miles.  

The challenge was accepted and in the middle of December 1959 Jim Pearson led the rowers to a convincing victory. The handicap that the runners gave the rowers was ridiculous.

Forty-five years on the race has continued without a break and is one of the oldest races in the region. Although runners are the only ones who compete at present the race still retains the “start  system” which makes the race an extremely exciting spectator event as the “scratch” competitors attempt to make up the stagger.

The route varies from day to day and this gives the run a certain novelty. It is not possible ‘to go around’ the course as it changes by the hour. At low tide the sand is compacted and firm to run on, although the weather can turn this into ‘ripples’ like corrugated roofing – much worse than the ‘London cobbles.’ Or when the sea has been particularly wild the surface can be dredged exposing rocks and even the concrete, defensive blocks from the war.’

And of course there are the groynes. ‘Groyne strain’ is a unique injury associated with this event. These piers (four in all) can be a short step-down or a five-foot precipice depending on the severity of the waves. They appear in the first mile, which means they also figure in the last mile.  It is possible to minimise the effect of this climb / drop but that means choosing either a circuitous route away from the shore and treading over the soft sand or going around them at the water line. The water around the groynes however, is of an indeterminate depth. If you are lucky it is up to your ankles, but if not you may find yourself up to your chest in the North Sea. This sudden icy plunging does nothing for ones PB’s.

BRC Members please note: The Club will also require marshals, timekeepers, tea-makers etc etc to help with this year's race, so if anybody can help then let George or Ralph know before they both go grey haired with worry. Details of this year's event are as follows: 

The 47^th  Blyth Sands Race:  Start 11:00am Sunday 3rd December 2006

Starters Instructions: Keep the North Sea on your right on the way out and on your left on the way back.... 

Unique staggered start:

Ladies O/50 - 12 Minutes start

Ladies  O/45 - 11 Minutes

Girls U/18 & Ladies O/40 - 9 Minutes

Men O/60  & Ladies O/35 - 7 Minutes

Men O/55  & Ladies O/18  - 5 Minutes

Men O/50 - 4 Minutes

Men O/45 - 3 Minutes