My association with The Blaydon Races goes back to October, 1992 when I joined De Blomendaler, a folk costume and dance troupe based in Blumenthal, Bremen-Vegesack. At that time they were transitioning from dancing from audio cassettes to dancing with actual, live musicians. As one of the first recruits, I joined an accordian player, Ernst R. to act as their "band". It took quite a while to adjust to the needs of dancers on my concertina and one of my principal tasks were to provide written arrangements. Lo and behold, and greatly surprised, I was amazed to find such a Geordie folk song being as dance music iby a very traditional German folk troupe. I have to say that De Blomendaler gave it their energetic best.
Fast forward to March, 2011 when I saw and heard the ultimate and definitive Blaydon Races performed by the then 80-year old Ronnie Palmer, an actual native of Blaydon at Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England. Please judge for yourself with the YouTube rendering given below:
The Blaydon Races, written by George Ridley to the tune of Brighton, was most probably also performed by that old time musical performer Charles Ernest Catcheside-Warrington who published the song in his Tyneside Songs Volume 1
A fine arrangement is given in Singing Hinnies Book 1. This song may be found in the Tyneside Maritime Chorus songbook but not yet in my personal repertoire

Lyrics