Its always good to hear of a Blaydon runner who has done well

- No matter how long ago.........

Imagine the scene, its a sunny but blustery day with a chilly north easterly wind blowing across the Victoria Ground in Gateshead.  As the crowds flock into the ground, two figures limber up and listen to last minute instructions from their respective camps as nearby, bookies take in the bets.  The year is 1862 and this is athletics 19th century style.

In particularly a footrace between Bob Bullerwell and a gentleman by the name of Summers and the race was captured in a song by Geordie Ridley:

Bullerwell and Summer's Race

Aw'm gawn to tell ye aboot a race

That cum off som time back

Between one Summers and Bullerwell

This Summers was all thi crack

Thi race was at thi Victoria grund

They said Summers was gaun ti flee

Says Bob aw cum frae Blaydon

And ye'l not get ower me

Noo when they both got at ti scratch

Summers backers they did chaff

Bur Bob knawin' his little game

Did nowt but stand and laff

When Bob's backers got thor money on

Summers wanted thi start d'ye see

But says Bob aw cumfrom Blaydon

And ye'll noy get ower me

Noo off they went wi Bob in front

Summers backers went near mad

They said that they could esily wun

If he hadn't tyekin bad

Noo away Bob went an' got the stakes,

And then they had a spree

Says Bob aw'm frae the country

An ye'll not get ower me

Noo away we gans ti the station

And tyuk the half-padt seven train

Then off we went ti Blaydon

Ti the sign of the Rifleman

An' there we all sat fuddlin

We had a first-rate spree

Says Bob aw cum frae Blaydon

And ye'll not get ower me

Then here's success to Bullerwell

May he always be weel backed

An' lang may Blaydon flourish

Since they've pass'd the Local Act

An' here's success ti the workin' man

May he niver want a frind dy'e see

So lads aw've sung ye aw maw song

 And ye'll get nee mair frae me