QUEEN’S 5K
On Wednesday night there were some superb performances across the age groups by East Down athletes at the annual Queen’s University 5K and 3K road races which incorporates the ANI 5K Championships. As ever the standard was extremely high with the overall winner Conor Bradley recording 14.44, a mere 4 seconds ahead of Letterkenny’s Danny Mooney with recent Jimmy’s Ten winner Ben Branagh, in 3rd. Both men were awarded the same finishing time.
First EDAC member to cross the line was the ever improving Ciaran Denvir in 17.18 in 83rd
place followed soon thereafter by our first lady, Niamh Kellett in 19.18 – and Yes, it really was her this time. Andrew Telford was happy with his 19.27 as he returns from injury.
ADAM and KIRSTI ARE THE STARS
However the performances of the night were 11 year old Kirsti Foster’s time of 20.31 and Adam Morgan’s unbelievable 20.49.
This was a tremendous result and I have often used Adam’s perseverance as an example of everything that is good about our sport and how he inspires me to keep going when the going gets tough. So take bow Adam!
And while we’re on the subject of being put to shame, Lucy Foster ran the 3K in 11.45, just ahead of Mackenzie Murray 11.55, with Jodi Foster 12.07 a few strides further back and Erin Moore completing the squad’s heroics in 14.26.
OMAGH HALF MARATHON
It’s been a long time since I last took part in the Omagh Half Marathon, but this year, having opted for Larne in the past 2 years, I decided it was time to give the Co. Tyrone venue another go, just for old time’s sake.
They say that if you want to be inspired, surround yourself with excellence, so in the company of Dermot Cahill, Gareth Kelly and Raymond Milligan from EDAC and Neil Curran from Strangford, but presently representing the Dub Runners, I set off early on Saturday morning, with the promise of dry, mild weather for the race which was due to begin at 11.00 am. In truth the weather turned quite wet, mainly heavy drizzle, but it was the changeable wind speed and direction which was expected to provide the biggest obstacle to good times. Not that it apparently affected my 4 companions.
Neil had been looking for some sort of sign that perhaps he should target a sub 3 hours marathon and came to Omagh with the intention of giving it a go to see where he stood, in terms of his prospects of achieving that goal. While he would have settled for 1.27 before the race he surprised even himself as he romped home in 1.24.41 in overall 63rd place in a field of almost 1700 finishers. Apart from his time which was a pb by several minutes this will work wonders for his confidence, a major requirement in any runners mental preparations for the classic distance.
Dermot Cahill led the East Down trio home, recording 1.30 28, followed by Gareth Kelly in 1.31.36 and Raymond Milligan in 1.31.59 all superb PBs, knocking almost 4 ,3 and 2 minutes respectively off their previous bests. These results also enabled the Team to place 19th out of 56 teams. Michael McKeown as usual posted a highly respectable 1.37.29. They all then had the opportunity to shower, rest and partake of the refreshments on offer before I crossed the line, in 2.18. 28. My excuse is that I like to get value for my entry fee by spending as long as I can on the route, enjoying the countryside as I go. The reality was that like everyone else it was the absolute quickest I could get round in. A real tough cookie of a course, superbly signed, marshalled and policed.
ALL IRELAND INDOORS AT ATHLONE
In somewhat drier and warmer conditions in the Indoor Arena in Athlone Edie Carroll was 4th in her heat of U16 800 metres, just failing by one tenth of a second to qualify for the final. Lauren Madine comfortably qualified by winning her heat of the U13 600 metres in 1.46 though she unfortunately succumbed to the effects of a cold and perhaps her participation in the Long Jump just before, in the final. But as ever she lives to fight another day.
EAST ANTRIM MARATHON SERIES (EAMS)
While we were enjoying the comparative sprint that was the half marathon distance, a few of our Club colleagues were investing in the latest of the EAMS challenges – a 30 miles ultra which consisted of 3 x ten mile laps, with the added bonus of passing the Knockagh Monument 3 times. Not one for the faint hearted, but then no-one could ever accuse Linda Cunningham or Oonagh Brétéché of that! Joining them for 20 miles was first timer Clare Carson 3.15.14 and I’d hazard a guess that she’ll very soon be undertaking longer distances too.
The race was won by Geoff Smyth in 4.05.41 with the first woman completing in 4.45. Oonagh was in fact the 3rd Woman to finish, recording an excellent 5.52.51 with Linda posting 6.16 with sister Jackie Moore, in her first ever ultra marathon, clocking 6.38.46. Well done and welcome to the club!
SUBWAY HALF MARATHON AND 10K
On Sunday Barrie Atkinson was an excellent 5th in the Subway Half Marathon in Belfast posting 1.19.19 and was well supported by the sole female representative from the Club, Joanne Foster who was 7th lady to finish in a notable time of 1.34.12.
SPRING LAKES 5 AND 10K
On Sunday also Castlewellan GAC staged its Spring Lakes 5 and 10K in the nearby Forest Park and from the somewhat sketchy results I have found that Mark O’Connor was the best placed 17th in 43.5 East Down AC runner in the 10K with Mickey Cunningham 31st in 51.5. In the 5K race Mackenzie Murray was the first EDAC runner in 16th place with Oliver Robinson 17th, Declan Hampton in 27th Alex Robinson in 48th and Marguerite in 49th. This is all guess work by the way as all of those listed may in fact be someone else entirely and if they are I apologise to those I have wronged. Given my experiences of picking names from sketchy, unverified lists, it is entirely possible that the names are pseudonyms, used to hide the true identities. So unless I have DNA evidence to prove who is who I will not be reporting anything as gospel from now on. But whoever you are Well Done anyway.
BALLYGALGET 10K ROAD RACE
On Easter Sunday 16th April the Ballygalget 10K Road Race and 5K Walk is again the local event to look forward to and with free return transport from the ferry to the start there is no reason why many from this side of the Lough should not take advantage to sample the hospitality of our friends in the Peninsula. Race begins at 12 noon with registration beforehand in the Gaelic Club premises.
LIONS 3 LAKES 7K FUN RUN and 15K ROAD RACE
The 5th running of this increasingly popular event organised by the Downpatrick Lions Club to raise funds this year for the Down’s Syndrome Association is aiming to attract a good turnout from local clubs. On Saturday 13 May this year the race and Fun Run is supported and promoted by East Down Athletics Club with the help and expertise that Atlas Running will bring to the event, the target is to put 150 pairs of feet on the scenic roads around the Down Lakeland. With an 11.00am start time everyone will be finished in time for family activities on Saturday afternoon.
Please give it your support
A reminder that although great efforts are made to find and publish results it hard to trace every last individual so if you have taken part in any event or run somewhere out of the norm please share photos and results with me by Sunday evening so that I can include all in the report.
Joe Quinn
2 April 2017