Last Tuesday evening saw local athletes head to the Ards Peninsula for the Portaferry 10 miler, part of the local summer Gala. At the start of the day you would not have thought it was summer, as the rain came down. As the East Down runners made their way across on the Strangford ferry the rain started to ease and as half seven approached it stopped with mild conditions. With 29 relay pairs and 177 10 milers on the start line with Mags Mathieson sounding the klaxon, the runners were off. The route covers the coastal roads and country lanes of the local area, there are some good flat sections of the course, but also a number of hills of different ascents and distances that can take the edge of a runner’s pace.

From the Klaxon Adam Withers who was drafted in at the last moment to partner Jacob Crawford as EDACs only relay team hit the front and handed over a strong lead to Jacob at the halfway point. I would say the second half of the 10 mile course is more undulating then the first and Jacob added to Adams strong first leg. The guys came in first in the relay team race in a time of 58 min 16 sec.

First EDAC runner to cross the line in the main race was Neil Curran who ran a very strong race and was happy with his time of 58 min 47 sec on a tricky course. Alice and Paul Brear Clarkson were the next red and yellow vests across the line, they ran a well paced race as they passed me at the 8 mile point and continued to pull away from me from then on. Crossing the line in 1 hr 03 min 56 sec, Alice coming in first female and a PB for both of them, great running. Not too far behind them was Martin Willcox and Dee Murray, from the off Dee hung onto my shoulder for the whole 10 miles, as we pushed each other along the route, and I thank him for that, and were happy to cross the line together in 1 hr 04 min 30 sec.

Declan Teague is normally known for his marathon running but took on the shorter distance and supported this great local race, and ran a determined 1 hr 13 min 21 sec in 80th position, not to far behind him was Seamus Savage who is trying his hand at all distances on the road and came in with a new PB 1 hr 13 min 48 sec. Second lady home was EDACs women’s team captain Sharon Madine who ran this race last year which was a lot hotter day, so used the cooler conditions to set a new PB for the distance 1 hr 17 min, another great run. Well done to Mags Mathieson, Micheal Kelly and their team for a great event, with great support around the course.