It is regarded by many as the unofficial anthem of tyneside and is frequently sung by supporters of newcastle united football club and newcastle falcons rugby club. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. George geordie ridley 1835 1864 was a tyneside concert hall songwriter and performer in the middle of the 19th century. Coffee johnny had a great reputation as a fighter and there are many local tales of his exploits, the following were told to joan gale by local people in 1967 and published in. Monday 5th june 1865 there are probably no races better known than the blaydon races, immortalised in the famous 19th century folk song,as went te blaydon races, twas on the ninth of june. Blaydon races centenary celebrations yorkshire film archive. The towns athletic club the blaydon harriers organise a road running race called the blaydon race every year on 9 june. In was over a hundred years ago, in 1861, that the blaydon local board was formed to run affairs in the then rapidly gowing community and in 1894 came great distinction for in that year the blaydon urban district council was set up. Blaydon races festival committee, the blaydon races heritage trail, 9 th of june, 1962. This year is the 150th anniversary of a piece of tyneside history. Coffee johnny had a great reputation as a fighter and there are many local tales of his exploits, the following were told to joan gale by local people in 1967 and published in a booklet called the blaydon races.
The blaydon area is the origin of the wellknown traditional song blaydon races, written by local musician and showman george geordie ridley in 1862. Results base are the leading timing company in the uk providing solutions for over 500 events a year. Iconic north east race following the history of the blaydon races. The blaydon races originally consisted of a horse race and fair. Jun 09, 2017 the blaydon races, by william irving, 1903 image. The life and times of coffee johnny died april 5th. Aa went to blaydon races twas on the ninth of june. These races were held at the same time as the hoppings which.
May 31, 2019 the blaydon races lyrics impress your friends with the geordie anthem in full ah went to blaydon races, twas on the ninth of joon, in eighteen hundred an sixtytwo, on a summers. The blaydon races is a good basis for crosscurricular work. I went to blaydon races twas on the 9th of june eighteen hundred and sixty two on a summers afternoon we took the bus from balmbras and she was heavy laden away we went along collingwood street thats on the road to blaydon chorus. Now dave harker had written a fascinating little book about the history of the song and its composer, george ridley. Blaydon races is also one of the the regimental songs of the royal regiment of fusiliers, the modern descendants of the royal northumberland fusiliers. The geordie anthem the blaydon races has made the name of blaydon famous throughout the world. By gaining a familiarity with the painting and the artist, its setting and themes, the pupils are often more comfortable about extending their work into other subject areas. Oh me lads, you shouldve seen us gannin passing the folks along the road just as they were stannin aal the lads and lasses there. This short film is about the history of the blaydon races and its chant that nufc fans sing at newcastle uniteds ground, st. Heat and kinetic theory in 19thcentury physics textbooks.
The first blaydon horse races were held in 1861 on a circular island in the tyne called blaydon island dents meadow. The famous blaydon races what were they and when did. Art and design studying the blaydon raceswill give numerous opportunities for a variety of learning outcomes. Mar 22, 2016 the sweets of may from the new england dancing masters duration. Blaydon, stella and ryton tyneside and the derwent valley. Hello there, salut, hola, howdy, hei, guten tag, and alreet. It is regarded by many as the unofficial anthem of tyneside citation needed and is frequently sung by supporters of newcastle united football club and newcastle fal. The keelman would go around sword dancing in the surrounding villages and the money they collected was either given as prize money or used to buy prizes. However, 1915 saw the publication of the book tyneside songs in which the blaydon races was collected and a song, which had remained largely forgotten after.
The song lyrics, written by geordie ridley, tell of the five mile journey from newcastle west to blaydon on race day, 9th june 1862, and of the characters and incidents along the way. One of the best reasons to on a vintage photograph is to enjoy the moment, the moment in history when the photo was taken. Blaydon flats are alluviial meadows where the famous blaydon races used to be held. Most people presume the lyrics are gannin alang the scotswood road whereas the original ridley version states ganalang. The blaydon races lyrics impress your friends with the geordie anthem in full ah went to blaydon races, twas on the ninth of joon, in eighteen hundred an sixtytwo, on a summers.
The modern race was the inspiration for dr james dewar of blaydon harriers, who organised the first 24 races starting in 1981. In 2019 we are again asking runners to meet up on grey street and they will then be walked around to the start on collingwood street. The route of the race follows the route outlined by ridley in his. It is at blaydon that the journey portrayed in the song finally. Today blaydon races is recognised as the national anthem of tyneside and is a popular football song.
Guest blogger christopher hoy looks at the history of the blaydon races and hears about plans for a celebration. Its 155 years since the events of a coach ride between newcastle and blaydon were commemorated in the geordie anthem. The song refers to a race meeting at blaydon, gateshead on 9 june 1862, describing the hazardous journey to the course. Jun 09, 2019 the blaydon race 2019 the race this year will be run on sunday, 9 th june expected start at 7. He has been described by a council source as a candidate for tynesides most famous songwriter. In its chequered history the blaydon races were held at three different locations from 1811, finally being abandoned in 1916 after a riot sparked by allegations of race fixing broke out. Of course blaydon is most famous as the setting for the blaydon races. Written by the gatesheadborn music hall performer geordie ridley 18351864, many places mentioned in his song are actually on the newcastle side of the river.
I went to blaydon races twas on the ninth of june eighteen hundred and sixty two on a summers afternoon i took the bus from balmbras and she was heavy laden away we went along collingwood street thats on the road to blaydon oh me lads, you shouldve seen us. Now dave harker had written a fascinating little book about the history of. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. A history of blaydon by winlaton and district local history society at. The first race attracted 212 entries, but by 2004 a record of 4,000 people took part with more than 600 other hopefuls rejected. Investigating painting techniques and styles in historical context. Thank you see more ideas about berwick upon tweed, cumbria and north yorkshire.
The annual november publication of national exam results at the grey stone edifice on the south bank of the river tyne does not bring a stampede of journalists to photograph clutches of pupils with straight as. The blaydon races the blaydon races geordie ridley i went to blaydon races twas on the ninth of june eighteen hundred and sixty two on a summers afternoon i took the bus from balmbras and she was heavy laden away we went along collingwood street thats on the road to blaydon oh me lads, you shouldve seen us gannin passing the folks along the road and all of them were starin all the lads. Dave wrote the book, gannin to blaydon races the life and times of george ridley which contains the original lyrics. William irvings spectacular painting depicting the blaydon races was saved for the. This event is steeped in local tradition and takes place every ninth of june in accord with the songs first line. I went to blaydon races twas on the ninth of june eighteen hundred and sixty two on a summers afternoon i took the bus from balmbras and she was heavy laden away we went along collingwood street thats on the road to blaydon oh me lads, you shouldve seen us gannin blaydon races is a good basis for crosscurricular work. The song was first performed at balmbras in newcastles cloth market as a tribute to tyneside rowing. From the times when you could not snap as many frames you wanted, and just delete and upload. Crawcrook was described in the boldon book durhams domesday book in 1183.
Have we been singing the wrong words to the geordie anthem. I play it the same speed as syncopace and they take it fairly fast, like a reel, but then they. Blaydon is a small town in gateshead, situated about 4 mi 6. It was known as gibb chambers owned by the refuge assurance company doors surmounted by carved bunches of grapes in wood. The annual blaydon races and fair was a major event on tyneside in the 19th. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Blaydon races centenary celebrations yorkshire film. Blaydons history blaydon winlaton chopwell and highfield.
Raw data shows it nearly 10 percentage points below the average gateshead secondary in. Blaydon comprehensive does not look like the kind of school that would welcome league tables. The blaydon races the races legend is a matter of great pride to blaydon folk. Brian may and ben eltons musical comes to the arena. In its chequered history the blaydon races were held at three different. Tyneside celebrates the blaydon races centenary in raucous style.
Blaydon races sculpture unveiled in gateshead bbc news. The blaydon races centenary of 1962 was a spectacular week of street parties, beauty queens, cycle, road and sulky racing, singalongs, folk dance, juvenile jazz bands and fireworks crowned by a 3 mile long parade to blaydon from the legendary balmbras music hall in newcastle. The sweets of may from the new england dancing masters duration. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Blaydon is a small town in gateshead, situated near newcastle upon tyne, in north east england. Since 1981, a road race has also been run from balmbras pub in newcastles cloth. Blaydon has long been known on tyneside and throughout the world for its races and for its industries.
The first mention we have of blaydon is 1256 when an entry in the northumberland assize rolls mentions the lord of the manor of denton complaining that robert neville and everard of blaydon had destroyed his fish weir on the tyne. The centenary marked george ridleys first balmbras music hall performance of the blaydon races, long known as tynesides national anthem, at a testimonial for tyneside rowing hero, harry clasper, where the song also promoted the official blaydon races of 9 june 1862. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and. Think about modern comic books and the techniques and devices they use to convey. See more ideas about celebrities, catherine cookson and blaydon races. The modern race was the inspiration for dr james dewar of blaydon harriers, who. Gibb lived in a fine house at the foot of the westgate road. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Its the first chant i remember hearing at the match when i was a kid, and it still stands out to this day. Blaydon races news newspapers books scholar jstor february 2008 learn how and when. Due to the events huge success, the organisers decided to hold the event again the following year on the 9th of june.