NI and ULSTER UNEVEN AGE GROUP CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
In what I can only describe as the worst conditions I ever remember in all my years involved with running, a view endorsed by many of the ANI officials who have been around the sport much longer than me, the NI & Ulster Uneven Age Group Cross Country Championships were held on Saturday at the Billy Neill MBE Sports Centre near Dundonald. Admittedly the races took place on the dedicated cross country course which the Lisburn and Castlereagh Council have provided at considerable expense, so if anywhere could have catered for the conditions it had to be there.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Last year following a last minute change of venue for this particular championship event, held in Monaghan, we reported that the mud lovers and hill seekers were disappointed that the new course was almost like a track event held on grass! Well the mud lovers and hill seekers, should have been in their element on Saturday, not that I recognised any by their expressions, as conditions were reversed with an almost vengeful intensity.
With severe weather warnings being the order of the day the event must have been in great danger of being called off, and as it can really only succeed if the runners turn up, it was very much a case of “The races are going ahead come and run”. And turn up they did, kids aged from 9 to 18, from every club and county in Ulster, braving the elements to travel and then to run over what was a waterlogged course, with the rain non-stop and a strong headwind to test the resolve of the hardiest.
TOTAL RESPECT
As I stood, buffeted by the wind but relatively well protected underneath a large umbrella, I was lost in admiration of every runner who came past, not just those at the front but more so for those at the very back, who not only faced up to the fact that they were not going to improve their positions, but bravely completed the required number of laps and finished the race.
WELL DONE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE!!
HOW DID THE EDAC RUNNERS FARE?
The brutal conditions were across the board with no respite. For the Juniors who were at their first Cross Country this was a complete shock to the system and even for the hardened enthusiasts it was hard to get through. The hardest part was waiting to race and trying to keep warm but even during the race there was little chance to thaw with icy water spraying constantly and the battle to stay upright was at times more on their minds than worrying where the opposition was. It is truly hard to convey how tough it was and even harder to comprehend why some of them will turn out again several more times this winter.
U11 Girls – Maeve McNeill was understandably a bit nervous but got to the start and finish! A big achievement for one so small!
U11 Boys – Alex Robinson 34th, Rory Morris 61st, Jarlath Kearney 72nd (98 runners) Good runs by all 3 and Alex and Rory were delighted to realise that they each had bagged a place on the Down Team for the All Ireland’s. A well deserved reward.
Rory Morris and Jarlath Kearney on the finish line of the U11 Boys’ Race
U13 Girls – Anna Kearney 67th, Orla Gibney 70th (87 runners) The two girls paced each other and finished strongly. Orla was grateful to have the lead of Anna’s experience.
U13 Boys -Finn Gibney 73rd, Aaron Lennon 79th (85 runners)This was a first time for Finn but he coped very well and Aaron showed that he had not been put off by his first race a couple of weeks back. Promising performances.
U15 Girls – Lauren Madine 2nd, Anna Gardiner 10th, Emily Burns 33rd, Kara Trainor 39th, Lucy Denvir 77th ( 81 runners ) Lauren Madine ran a spirited race and was always up with the leaders and gave notice of her continuing good form by taking the silver medal. It was a gutsy performance and was great to see. She qualifies as an individual as does Anna Gardiner who ran well to come in 10th. The rest of the U15 EDAC girls ran their hearts out too and as a result they were 4th Club Team in the count and go through to the All Ireland’s as a Team which is praiseworthy as some of them are a year under age for this grouping. Some of them will also form the basis of the Down Team.
Lauren Madine (left) getting a silver medal in the U15 Girls’ Race alongside Kirsti Foster (Willowfield) 1st
and Ferne Duffy (Shercock) 3rd.
U15 Boys – Ollie Robinson 49th (80 runners) – It is hard to be the only EDAC in the race but he found a good rhythm and got stuck in rightly.
U17 Boys – MacKenzie Murray 32nd was in good form and placed well in a top level field. Declan Hampton and Jack Carson were game to try this out and deserve praise for their efforts. Mackenzie and Declan both qualify for the All Irelands on the County Down ticket.
There is no doubt that cross country is a great character builder and runners are the better for it but try telling them that at the time! The results above are only half the story and the club is more than proud of every individual who turned out. A big thank you is due to the coaches for their support which went far beyond the call of duty and also to the parents who not only had to spectate in the downpour but also clean up the aftermath. Well done one and all!
SENIORS IN THE BOBBY REA MEMORIAL
EDAC fielded the minimum 4 runners in order to get team points in the Bobby Rea International race and were well represented by Neil Curran 52nd, Gareth Reilly 113th, Gavin Hynds 118th and Niall Gibney 122nd out of 218 finishers, a good all round team performance.
Gavin Reilly, Neil Curran, Gavin Hynds and Niall Gibney after a muddy Bobby Rea XC
RUN TO REMEMBER 5K
Over 200 took to the roads around Ballynahinch for the Run to Remember Event hosted by Atlas Running. It was heartening to see so many prepared to turn out in the wet conditions. EDAC had 3 runners who all came in the top 10. Paul Lloyd was 7th in 21.17 with Martin Willcox taking 4th spot in 19.57. Bragging rights go to recent arrival James Sloan, who ran a determined 18.42 to take 2nd overall. The route went along the Crossgar Road and went in a loop on the quieter country roads before heading back to the town. There were plenty of hills and plenty of puddles and there may have been some nice scenery but no-one many took time to notice it. Well done to all who took part.
Tom Crudgington Newcastle AC 3rd, Lawrence O’Hara North Belfast 1st and Jimmy Sloan EDAC 2nd at the finish of the Run to Remember 5K race on Saturday with the race sponsor Kevin Smyth proprietor of The Primrose Bar, Ballynahinch
SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT
The Senior members are reminded that they must contact either Deirdre Weatherall or Gavin Hynds to book their places by 16th November and that their votes are required for the following categories:- Most Improved Female Athlete, Most Improved Male Athlete, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year and the Club Person of the Year, by 21 November, so that the awards can be presented at the Club Night in Denvir’s Hotel night on the 23rd.
NEXT WEEKEND
On Sunday 17 November the action switches to the tarmac again as the Co Down 5K takes place in Downpatrick, with the first race at 10.00am. Entries in all the categories and races is open at www.athleticsni.org. This event has been increasing in popularity since its inception 3 years and local runners are advised to enter as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Further information is available from Andrew Telford on 07771985042 or at www.andrewtel84@gmail.com
Joe Quinn & Alison Carroll & Marguerite Robinson (with the Juniors)
11 November 2019