Photo credit Banners Running Snaps
Newcastle’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will see something entirely new this year as the inaugural HogmanHOWAY 5K takes to the closed roads of the city centre tomorrow, featuring an outstanding elite field lining up alongside runners of all ages and abilities.
Starting and finishing at the Civic Centre, the flat, fast route offers the perfect stage for both high-level racing and a unique mass-participation celebration to close out 2025 in energetic style.
Fry leads elite women’s entries
The women’s elite race brings together a mix of international experience, championship medals and proven road and track speed.
Fastest on paper is Izzy Fry (Newbury), who set a superb 14:59.63 for 5000m on the track in Vienna earlier this year and recently finished 31st at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal. She’ll face strong opposition from Verity Ockenden (Swansea), who owns a 15:03.51 track PB and arrives in solid early-season form.
There is also plenty of middle-distance class stepping up to 5K. Sarah Calvert (Livingston / Edinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds), the British 1500m champion, adds tactical nous and finishing speed, while Lucy Armitage (Sale Harriers Manchester) continues her impressive rise after a standout 2025 that included a British U23 800m title and international appearances.
Lucy Jones (Herne Hill Harriers) made headlines earlier this year as first female finisher in the mass participation race at the London Marathon, clocking 2:30:23, while Irish international Róisín Flanagan (Finn Valley AC) brings championship pedigree from the Commonwealth Games and European Championships, alongside a rapid 15:25.51 5K set in Brussels this May.
Completing a deep women’s line-up are Amelia Quirk (Bracknell AC), fifth in the 3000m at the Torun 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships, and experienced Scot Morag Millar (Central), who has Commonwealth Games and European cross country appearances under her belt.
Scott Beattie fastest on paper in elite men’s field
The men’s elite field is equally impressive, with strength in depth that promises aggressive racing from the gun.
Indoor 5000m specialist Scott Beattie (Morpeth) arrives with the fastest track mark in the field – 13:04.99 set in Boston earlier this year – and a 28:31 10K that earned him 13th place at the inaugural European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven earlier this year. Fellow Morpeth athlete Cameron Boyek, a 3:34.28 1500m performer, brings his sharp track speed to the roads.
The experienced John Beattie (Leeds City) has gone sub-30 for 10K every year since 2008 and boasts a 13:42.03 track 5000m PB, while Gateshead’s Calum Johnson set a 13:45.40 5000m PB earlier this year and recently represented Great Britain at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
Photo credit: Jerry Sun
One of the most intriguing names on the start list is Aron Gebremariam (Birchfield Harriers), who has enjoyed a breakthrough year, setting personal bests of 13:31 for 5K and 28:53 for 10K on the road. Add in Ireland’s James Gormley, a 13:39.42 5000m runner with sub-3:54 mile speed, and Danish athlete Elliot Smith-Rasmussen, and the stage is set for a fast, competitive contest.
A new New Year’s Eve tradition
While the elite races promise fireworks at the front, HogmanHOWAY is designed first and foremost as a celebration of running and community. Conceived by North East athletics legend Steve Cram, the event gives runners of every generation the chance to welcome the New Year by getting active together on safe, traffic-free streets in the heart of Newcastle.
The event is proudly supporting The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the official charity partner, helping raise funds towards the proposed Sir Bobby Robson Institute – a world-leading cancer research and treatment centre for the region.
Thanks to our partners
The very first HogmanHOWAY 5K is made possible thanks to the support of an outstanding group of partners, led by Develop North PLC as title partner. Additional thanks go to Northumbria University as venue partner, Maldron Hotel Newcastle as official event hotel, and Start Fitness for hosting race pack collection and providing free socks for every runner. Support from Newcastle City Council and the North East Combined Authority has also been vital in delivering a safe and memorable event. With elite athletes ready to race, buffs and medals prepared, and the city primed for celebration, HogmanHOWAY 5K promises to be a fitting, fast-paced and feel-good way to finish the year – and start the next one on the right foot.
Enter now. Entries close 30th December. No entries on the day.
