Strong line-ups expected for two road events on same weekend

IT is a busy weekend for the region’s athletes with Elswick Harriers’ Road Relays taking place on Good Friday and North Tyneside Council’s 10k Road Race scheduled for Easter Sunday.

Both events attract strong line-ups, the North Shields to Whitley Bay race again attracting the maximum number of 2,200 entries.

While the Elswick event has been part of the local athletics scene for more than 30 years, the North Tyneside 10k is a relatively new addition to the calendar.

However, despite two events clashing - albeit 48 hours apart there will by numerous athletes lining up in both, which has happened in past years.

The Good Friday Relays, which were originally promoted by the now-defunct Benwell Harriers, are now hosted by Elswic - one of England’s oldest athletics clubs and the oldest in the North East who took up the mantle using a 2.2-mile course which included the dreaded climb up Denton Bank.

Due to the ever-increasing volume of traffic in recent years the event, which also caters for young athletes, found a new home – a 2.2-mile circuit at Newburn Riverside Park which still manages to attract around 900 competitors.

As well as awards for the first three teams, for the first time the athlete with the fastest time will be recognised by receiving the Alex Burns Cup.

The North Tyneside race is a much tougher affair with competitors taking in a scenic route including the Fish Quay and along the promenade before tackling the climb adjacent to Tynemouth Priory.

From that point the course is relatively flat along the coastline before finishing close to St Mary’s Lighthouse.

Action on Good Friday begins at 9.15 with a combined under-11 boys’ and girls’ 1.16-mile run, the senior men and veterans four-stage relay closing proceedings at 10.55.

The North Tyneside 10k gets underway at 10.00, starting outside the Parks Sports Centre in North Shields.