Yared Hagos kicked any concerns of a post-Brighton Marathon hangover well into touch, as he sped around the picture-perfect undulations of Raby Castle grounds today.
 
The self-confessed raceaholic has kept a reasonably low profile since his 2.19 on the south coast, but conscious of a-bit-of-a-bun-fight looming on the 9th of June, 'twas decided that he needed a "sharpener."
 
And oh me lads (and lasses) ye shud ha' seen him gannin': careering through halfway in 14.44, on the most picturesue, but -oh-so hilly terrain. Martin Scaife's excellent course record (of 31.14) appeared in serious jeopardy, but could the Walker Wonderboy maintain such a ferocious tempo - as the intensity of the heat and the undulations began to bite in the second half ? 

Well, there are few better sights in north-east athletics than the Merlay Hall Magician in full flow and so it was, that Wor Yared kept the kettle boilng until the finish line. Of course Mr Hagos' exertions were not without his customary detours from the course (probably costing him about 20 seconds on this occasion and almost resulting in him being the first person to end up in the castle moat for over a hundred years !)
 
But, nothing could prevent him from taking the victory and in a stupendous time of 30.16, given the context. Make no mistake, this performance will send out a warning shot, firmly establishing him among the favourites for the Blaydon Race, in what promises to be one of the most competitive battles for years.
 
The Walker Wonderboy was customarily modest during his post-race "coffee ceremony", preferring to : extol birthday wishes to my beautiful partner; verify whether Ruth Marshall had (indeed) secured the W45 record today; marvel at Brill' Bri's recent endeavours; and speculate whether Rollerball Roscoe Murray - the Wallsend-based man inna Hurry - could "run the standard"; rather than "talk up" his chances of being the first gadgie to see ahl the smilin' faces . . . . . . .when he's gannin' alang the Sotswood Road.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sog