HAVE YOU GOT A MINUTE?
Sunday was World Suicide Prevention Day, a significant way of drawing attention to the shocking statistic the in the UK, someone takes their life every 90 minutes. The National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) is encouraging people every 90 minutes to take a minute to do something that can have a positive impact on someone’s life. These can be things as simple as asking someone if they are doing OK or inviting a mate to join you for a walk or a run.
Locally the All Lives are Precious (ALPS) Group made it easy to do the latter by organising, in conjunction with Downpatrick Boxing Academy and Atlas Running, a 5K Family Fun Run and 10K Race leaving from Downpatrick Cricket Club at 1.00pm on Sunday. Other charities supporting and benefiting from the money raised are Action Cancer, the Fountain St Foodbank and Good Morning Down.
Unfortunately I was unable to take part in the race though I did manage to attend an excellent concert in St Patrick’s Church on Sunday night, organised by Ronan Gilchrist, co-founder of ALPS, in support of the same charities.
8 OF THE BEST
However East Down AC did field 8 runners in the 2 distances, with Ciaran Denvir winning the 10K in an excellent 37.18, a course record as this was the first over a new route, from Finbar Keary unattached 37.34 and Murlough AC’s Joe Power 44.33, third Male and 4th overall.
East Down’s Deirdre Weatherall won the Ladies prize in 43.37, upsetting the male dominance by taking 3rd place overall, ahead of Joelene Scott 48.38 and Sinead Scullion 48.45 who had travelled from Ballymena to take part.
Cathy Burke 22nd, Catherine Gilchrist 29th and Roisin Gaffney 32nd completed the East Down entries of the 61 finishers in the 10K.
In the 5K last week’s BK5K winner Kyle Ross 18.30 Ballydrain Harriers again triumphed from Newcastle AC’s Ronan McVeigh 18.53 and East Down’s Andrew Telford 18.56 in 3rd
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In 5th place was East Down’s prolific and consistent Callum Kent 20.59, with Declan Hampton running better with every outing, 12th of 83 in 24.14.
Ladies’ winner was Murlough’s Leah Calvert 22.32, another repeating last weekend’s success at Ballykinlar, from Suzy Smyth 24.01 and Elaine Flynn 25.21.
TOUGH and MINI MUDDER
Gareth Amos and eldest daughter Lara competed in the Tough Mudder (5 miles of crawling through mud with obstacles) and the three younger girls Keira, Lena and Mia all did the Mini Mudder at Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley I’m told) Castle, Cheshire. They were later only identified by means of DNA tests.
GREAT NORTH RUN
Keith Reilly was our one and only representative in Sunday’s Great North Run and was delighted with his finisher’s medal and a time of 1.50.33 which was a distance PB by 6 minutes!
EAMS 6 HOUR CHALLENGE
Another one and only was Clare Carson who completed 4 laps, (almost 17 miles) of the EAMS 6 Hour Challenge on Saturday. Clare commented that “ Usually the EAMS courses are really hilly but this was a flat lap from Gideon’s Green along the coastal path towards Carrick. It was lovely scenery but I definitely like hills for the variety – never thought I would say that!” You just did Clare and if the organisers get to hear about it they may well grant your wish – next time!
DUNDALK MARATHON
Linda Cunningham and Oonagh Brétéché were in Dundalk for the Marathon Club Ireland (MCI) latest offering, And they finished together in 5 hours 28 minutes, just ahead of Linda’s sister Jackie Moore Murlough who is getting as bad (or as good) as they are at doing marathons and ultras for fun.
NEXT UP IS DARRAGH CROSS
After next Sunday’s fully booked up Belfast Half Marathon the next local fixture is the Darragh Cross 10 and Fun Run which takes place on Sunday 24 September at 12.30pm. Please note the change of time to that advertised. All entries will be taken on the day from 11.00am in the GAA Club premises.
Joe Quinn
11 September 2017