With a late announcement of a new venue for this years Jelly Tea race it was always going to be hit & miss on the popularity and turn out for the race, with the venue already used by Run Nation.
17 members turned up to find not only warm conditions but also a swirling wind which no matter which direction you were running on the 2-lap course it always seemed to be in your face.
Although the course didn’t contain any large hills it was full of gradual inclines which made the race just a touch more difficult in the conditions.
16 of the 17 survived the race to pick up points, with divisional bragging rights going to John Younger, Martin Fairbairn, Sandra Watson, Claire Mason and Joanne Stobbart.
General consensus was the old route was preferred but Tynedale confirmed rising costs of road closures had caused the change of venue. The downfall at the new venue was there was no kitchen present and say quietly but they also ran out of Tea for some of the later finishers.
Personally, as tough as it was, I think I would still return as it provides a good 10 mile race, in closed off area in preparation for the Autum season of Half Marathons. Is this a view shared by all.. probably not.
The full results can be found HERE