2012 RACE DETAILS - provisional

The race this year will be run on Saturday, 9th June with an expected 6.00pm start. 

However, because of planned redevelopments at the Blaydon Shopping Precinct, in 2012 we will be finishing at the Shibdon Playing fields on Shibdon Road, a bit further on from the shopping centre. We'll be shortening a bit of the route through the Derwent Marina Section to keep the overall distance to 5.9 miles. From Balmbra’s in Newcastle city centre, along Collingwood Street and Scotswood Road past Armstrong’s factory and over the Scotswood Bridge to finish in the playing fields on Shibdon Road at about 6.30pm. Distance 5.9 miles.

The race charity for 2012 is The Newcastle Childrens Hospitals Charity.

This fundraising organisation was formed to support the Fleming Memorial Hospital for Sick Children. The first meeting of the Fleming Fund Committee was held in the boardroom of Barclays Bank on Thursday 27th January 1949 at 2:30pm. The original committee consisted of local businessmen and women. The minutes of the first meeting record that Matron would be consulted about suitable purchases, which would benefit the children and their families. It also recorded that there were 120 subscribers to the fund.

Over the years, the name has changed. Originally "Friends of the Fleming", this name was used until 1987 when the Children's Hospital closed and the services transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. As the children's wards were all located in the same part of the hospital, the name was changed to "Friends of the Fleming Children's Wing R V I."

Although the name of the organisation and the location of the patients changed, the function of the organisation did not. Fund raising events continued and a greater number of children benefited. The annual Garden Fete is now held in the grounds of the RVI with other events in and around the RVI and Freeman Hospitals.

The amalgamation of Children's Services, between Newcastle General Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary, increased the number of wards and departments requiring support. There was a further increase when all three acute hospitals and the community formed one NHS Trust in Newcastle and the children's wards and departments in Freeman Hospital were included. This fundraising organisation now supports children in hospital and in the community.

In 2001, in order to reflect current changes and the future application for charitable status, the name was changed again to the Fleming Children's Trust.

In 2008, to be better reflect the work of the charity the name was changed to Newcastle Childrens Hospitals Charity.

Race entry fee will be £20. Members of running clubs affiliated to UK Athletics will benefit from a discount of £2.00 as per UKA rules (Registration Number required on the entry form to claim the discount).

The race limit is 4000 entries. Once that 4000 have been received we cannot accept any more. The limit, set in consultation with police and the local authorities, applies to the number of entries, not the number of runners. We are not permitted to allocate extra places when people drop out before the race. In 2011, the 4000 limit was reached in 3 days. The on-line allocation of 2000 was taken up in only 6 hours!!

This year, in order to give a better chance for you to enter online, the online entry form will be opened in 4 stages spread over the whole of the day of entries opening, allowing 500 entries in each stage. Entries will open at 10am, 2pm, 4pm, and 9pm and will close after receiving 500 entries in each batch. We know that online entries will be fully taken by the end of the opening day - 6th February 2012.

Detailed race instructions will be sent out to all accepted entrants with their race numbers. There are often important changes to the previous year’s instructions so you should read them carefully.

Finally, we emphasise that the Blaydon is a serious road race run under UK Athletics rules and not a sponsored walk: we will not accept entries from people who intend to walk.