NEWCASTLE MEN WIN THE RGU 10K ROAD RACE
It was indeed fortuitous for the runners in Wednesday night’s RGU 10K that the thunder shower arrived before the race got under way, though perhaps not so for the brave group of walkers who effectively bore the brunt of it and for whom it passed through rather than over. Well done to them bodies soaked ,but spirits undampened!
While Newcastle AC runners dominated last year’s event by winning both Men’s and Women’s races and most of the category prizes too they did not have it all their own way this time. Admittedly the race was won in fine style by Newcastle’s ever improving Jack O’Hare 36.40 with his clubmate Patrick Higgins 37.37 in 3rd place, but East Down held its
own with James Savage 36.59 taking 2nd overall courtesy of a strong second half, and Dee Murray in 4th place. The remarkable thing about these results is that Jack, James and Dee are all in the Masters categories now yet are still returning these great times and competing successfully with much younger adversaries ! Another Newcastle AC runner Kieran Morgan took the Over 35 prize, his clubmate Joe McCann the Over 45’s and Ballydrain’s Norman Mawhinney the Over 55’s .
BUT EAST DOWN LADIES FIGHT BACK
It was a different tale however in the Ladies race where East Down runners filled the top 3 places. First and 6th overall was Catherine O’Connor 39.22 followed by Niamh Kellett 40.37 2nd and 10th and Deirdre Weatherall 3rd and 15th..
City of Lisburn’s Diane Watson was first Over 35 finisher with the other category prizes going to Heather Stanex, Ballydrain Harriers (Over 45) and the Over 55’s to Anne McCullagh also City of Lisburn, who was celebrating her 60th birthday on the night – so a double celebration for her and Many Happy Returns.
RELAY
The relay was won by the East Down pairing of Lauren Madine and Andrew Telford with Mackenzie Murray and Callum Kent claiming the Male title with Lucy and Jodi Foster combining to take the Female crown.
There was a reasonable sized entry from East Down members, no doubt all pursuing points in the In-Club competition, which will be a hotly disputed affair right up to the final rounds. Details to be published later this week
WELCOME BACK LIAM
It was a real confidence booster to me and to all the other local runners to see Liam Keenan’s name appear for the first time in quite a while amongst the finishers in one of the newest events on the running calendar. He took part in the North Belfast Harriers Afternoon of 5K Personal Bests staged at the Boys Model school track. His time of 20.27 may not be regarded by some, including himself, as particularly spectacular but it’s where he’s at, reflects progress and I’d give my eye teeth for anything within 10 minutes of that.
SERMON ON (HOW TO TACKLE) THE MOUNT?
It barely seems like a year from the last 10K through Crossgar and yet came Saturday there we were again, conditions vastly different from Wednesday’s damp, cool and breezy outing. Temperatures were in the mid 20s as the almost 150 strong field set off from the Monastery grounds over what I heard many describe later as “a tough, hilly wee course”. As I get the blame for being responsible for all the hilly runs in Co Down, not to mention the arrival of the rain on Wednesday night, I am happy to say this one had nothing to do with me, though if I’m getting the blame I’ll also claim credit for stopping the rain before the start on Wednesday! I don’t necessarily agree with that course assessment anyway as the heat contributed to the discomfort experienced by many runners.
TAKE MY ADVICE – I’M NOT USING IT!
And more significantly, courses are not tough, they are what we make them. In other words your pace is what dictates how you feel. Running up hills is easy – if you don’t push too hard. The idea is to run with an even expenditure of effort throughout the period of the race, which for me means when I come to a hill I slow down! Inevitably I then get to speak to other runners as I overtake them because they are walking. OK so they fly past again when the going gets easier but I know I’ll catch them at the next rise in the road and that I’ll probably be ahead of them at the finish line! So take a wee bit of advice from an old timer – if you want to speed up (overall), slow down! (on the hills). Lecture over.
THE RACE ITSELF
The race itself proved something of a stroll in the park for David O’Flaherty who simply sat on the shoulder of the impressively strong running, though surprisingly unattached, Brian Kinsella, before breaking away after 8k and coming home in 35.08, half a minute ahead of Kinsella with East Down’s ultra consistent James Savage 37.05 in 3rd place. Dee Murray also appeared again after his Wednesday efforts and filled 7th place this time just behind first lady finisher Amy Bulman from Willowfield and ahead of Catherine O’Connor 39.39 who was 2nd lady
David was sufficiently recovered to turn out and win the 5K race in Rostrevor on Saturday night as well. Mary-Jo Tumelty was the sole Est Down representative in this event, clocking 333.28 in what was her first competitive run for quite a while.
VIOLET CATCHES THE EYE
In many ways the performances of Saintfield Striders Violet Spence is equally praiseworthy to that of David’s. Having spent 75 minutes dealing with the twists and turns of the RGU 10Kin the wind and rain on Wednesday night she could have been forgiven for putting her feet up for a good long rest. So where do we find her on Saturday? On the roads around Crossgar and not only completing the distance but knocking a minute off her midweek effort. Did someone say this was “a tough, hilly wee course”?? Hats off to you Violet, keep at it, your tenacity does you proud!
LADIES OF THE RING?
What do you do if you find something tough – well if you are Janine Murray you turn round and do it again a couple of days later. Having declared the RGU 10k “ a bit hilly” Janine duly took a late entry for the Giants Ring Trail Race starting at the Dub Pavilion on Friday Night less than 48 hours after the RGU and tackled the hills with gusto. She came over the line in 57.24. Joanne Foster was the only other EDAC runner and she came a commendable 5th female in 44.15. The overall male and female winners were Mark McKinstry of North Belfast and Sarah-Jane Guiney of Albertville.
COOKSTOWN SIZZLER
Joanne had also “done the double” but just to take things a bit further she travelled to Cookstown on Sunday for the Half Marathon. She explained doing 3 races in 5 days as a lucky coincidence as she had won the entry for Cookstown only a few days before in a Facebook Competition! It was worth availing of this good fortune as she came home in a time of 1.35 which gave her second place to the overall winner Louise Smith (North Belfast). Well done on all your efforts, Joanne! The overall winner was Steven McAlary of Springwell in 1.15.
KILLYLEAGH’S GREAT EAST RUN
Plans are well advanced with the organisation of the Killyleagh Half Marathon and 3 person Relay re-named as the Great East Run which is taking place on Saturday 26 August in aid of the Alzheimers Society. Local traders and businesses have proved supportive with sponsorship and a great day is in prospect. Online entry is open at www.athleticsni.org
DARRAGH CROSS
The Darragh Cross 10K and 5K Fun Run this year takes place on Sunday 24 September at 1.00pm.
Joe Quinn & Alison Carroll
31 July 2017