LOUGHINISLAND 5.05
Deja vu struck again on Wednesday night as East Down’s Brendan Teer cruised round the allegedly hilly route in 27.08, with Newcastle’s David McNeilly again in second place. Martin Willcox completed the podium placings while James Savage took the over 35 prize just ahead of Michael Cultra. Willowfield’s Mervyn Chambers was first over 45 wnd Murlough’s Dave Fulcher took the over 55 prize.
Deja vu was turned upside down in the ladies race where in form Catherine O’Connor took top spot, knocking over 2 minutes off her time from last year in the process, ahead of clubmate Laura Gardiner, making an exciting step up to the longer distance. Orangegrove’s Sile Brennan was 3rd.
Last year’s winner Cheryl Denvir had to be content with first in the over 35 category with Linda Cuningham taking the over 45 prize. New recruit Mark O’Connor ran well to take 9th place with other new arrivals Tom Dowey and Janine Murray showing up well too. Roger Byrne broke 40 minutes on what is in reality a tough enough challenge and Owen Edwards and Aoife Cochrane could both be satisfied with their first efforts outside the junior ranks.
In the Fun Run Ella Carroll, improving all the time, took the 1st Lady prize with the Girls Under 16 trophy going to Laura Green. Loughinisland duo Peter Nugent and Andrew Boyd took the Male equivalents
Loughinisland GAC pass on their thanks to all who supported the races and invite you back next year on the last Wednesday in June.
ARDS HALF MARATHON
On to Friday night for the Ards Half Marathon which was also host to the NI Half Marathon Championships. Hot, sunny conditions made life difficult for all the runners but Brendan Teer seemed to be cruising in 2nd place just through Comber but later reported leg cramps as the reason for a torrid run in after being overtaken by Annadale’s Keith Purdy at the 10 mile point. Barrie Atkinson was 6th overall and 6 minutes quicker than last year and must surely have all but secured top finisher status in the Half Marathon League series
The ever consistent Michael McKeown was also there as were Mark O’ Connor and Charlie Ataliotis, who also ran on Wednesday with Ian McCracken and Samantha Anderson completing the East Down squad.
BALLYKINLAR 10K (the BK10K)
Sunday welcomed the 2nd running of the unique event that is the Ballykinlar 10K, though like Loughinisland the entries were considerably down on last year. In Brendan Teer’s absence resulting from his injury on Friday night there was always going to be a new winner and North belfast’s Simon Reevetook the title with a convincing 36 second advantage ahead of Newcastle’s Martin Melville with East Down represented on the podium by Mark O’Connor. First Lady was Mourne Runners ever competitive Virginia Ervine from Lisa Robinson and Victoria Simms.
While numbers may have been disappointing it was a very successful day thanks to the generous of sponsorship of local Vivo Store manager Rory Magorrian in conjunction with Hendersons which provided, fruit, water and chocolate bars for all participants. Former local resident Dermot Fisher, now resident in Maidenhead and a recent convert to running, supplied a very attractive memento in the form of a gold medal, which was well received by all. The nominated charity this year was the Cystic Fibrosis Trust
.IS THE NUMBER UP FOR RUNNING?
Have we reached saturation point on the running front? Inevitably, sooner or later the question would have to be asked when, in spite of increasing numbers taking up running, the numbers participating in some smaller less well established events, would start to decline. Perhaps it’s the glut of fixtures – runners have an unprecedented number and variety of events, both locally and nationally, available every week so naturally they will pick and chose. The bottom line is I suppose that they cannot take part in every race, even all of their local ones.
Given that numbers in both the local races reported on above were down considerably on last year, and in the Ards Haf marathon which attracted a slight increase, it was noticeable that despite its championship status there was a significant lack of quality in the field. Apart from the first half dozen or so men and even fewer women there was little to indicate that the top runners in NI were interested in taking up he challenge – though that may be for different reasons.
Perhaps it is time for some of the smaller groups, mostly organising races for fund raising or charities, to consider combining resources, developing a bigger event, sharing costs, attracting greater numbers and ultimately sharing a bigger pot at the end.
HILL and DALE WINNERS
Congratulations to Catherine O’Connor on her fantastic success in this year’s Hill and Dale series where she finished leading lady and to Brian Hamiltonon taking the Over 65 title. And well done to all the EDAC members who took up the mountain running challenge seriously this year. What a year 2015 promises to be.
THE WEEK AHEAD
So what’s to do this weekend? Well on Friday night 4th July there is the Greyabbey 10K and 5K Fun Run at 7.30pm, and on 11th July the Shore 10K in Killough, beginning at 7.30pm
Joe Quinn
30 June 2014