Strangford Festival Draws the Crowds
This week’s running was confined to the weekend with no midweek event to lure people away from a solid week’s training. Friday night was always going to be well supported as it is a local event and part of the larger program of Strangford Festival. Entries taken on the night and the promise of good weather meant that a good number of EDAC turned out for the 5K and 10K races. The route was advertised as road and trail, starting and finishing in Strangford and a section in the grounds of Castleward. When runners see this description they know that they are in for an interesting run with some scenery to distract but they also know that they are unlikely to hit a PB. That does not mean that they will take it easy by any means. As is becoming a familiar theme in the post race comments the words “that hill!!” was mentioned more than once.
Aaron McGrady Retains his Crown
The hill in question is around the 6K mark of the 10K on the main road in the estate and to make things even more testing, “there was a stiff headwind at that point that made it difficult to get the legs going again on the road to the gates” according to Aaron McGrady who was out to defend his title from the previous year. In the end he was well clear of Drew Fowler (Ballydrain Harriers) who came in 2nd and despite the gap back to his nearest competitor, Aaron even improved his winning time of 2018 by a full minute finishing in 33.33. Drew was home in 37.10 with Connaire McVeigh of Newcastle&District AC (37.27) taking third place.
Aaron McGrady in full flight on Snowdonia as part of the World Fell Running Champs
Aaron was particularly pleased as he is coming off a hard block of training and knew his legs were not fresh but he obviously was more than fit to race. It is clear that Aaron is going well and endorses the fact that he got his first Northern Irish Vest recently when he was selected to take part in Snowdonia World Cup Fell Race as part of the NIMRA Team. He came 16th overall and was first home in the NI squad which is quite an achievement in competition of that level.
Catherine O’Connor gets an East Down AC Double
Catherine O’Connor took the race by the scruff of the neck and despite her cursing the aforementioned hill, she ran an impressive 38.43 to hold off the formidable presence of Karen Wilton of Jog Lisburn (39.33). The third lady home was Hannah Somani of Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC who had accompanied Aaron home on his flying visit and was keen to get in the mix. She enjoyed the race and was pleased to make podium in 41.55.
East Down in the Mix
As well as the two at the pointy end, the Club was well represented with a further host of athletes led in by Colin Shields in a gutsy 42.45. He was soon joined by Dermot Cahill in 43.59, Gareth Kelly (46.07), Gerard Grant (46.12) and Nuala Taylor in 48.04. Nuala was delighted to discover that she had won the F40 category and probably a little bit chuffed to also come in ahead of her husband John (48.38). Seamus Savage worked hard for his 52.33 and managed to stay ahead of club mate Donal Smith (52.51). Gillian Grant crossed the line in 53.31 and Patricia Galloway running in with her sister Penny Polly encouraged her all the way to a 55.04 finish and Nicole Laverty who thought it was the hardest event that she had ever done was relieved to get home in one piece in 58.40. Last but not least of the EDAC brigade was Richard Boyd who slipped in before the 60 minute barrier happy with his efforts. The tailwind home in the last 2K was a life saver and while it may not have made up for the hill, the welcome from those in the town and the general atmosphere was a great encourager. Well done to the organising Committee and all the volunteers who put on such a great event!
Nuala Taylor delighted to receive a prize as first F40
Glory for Rory
As if that wasn’t excitement enough there was also a 5K option. It was even more popular than the 10k and had 160 entrants eager to breach the tape. East Down was again out in force and indeed was a force to reckoned with. Conor Rice was 4th overall just a shade over 20 minutes in 20.03 which is a good time but on the night the glory went to new recruit Rory Morris who stormed off to take the first Junior spot in 21.56 and to finish 8th overall. He was absolutely thrilled and rightly so – a great debut in the EDAC vest. Bravo Rory!
Rory Morris wins on his debut for EDAC (First Junior at Strangford 5K)
Top 20 for Adam
Adam Morgan stuck with the front bunch to come 19th (23.50) overall. The first Female Junior was Meabh Hull (unattached) in 23.55 and a mere 5 seconds behind her was Cara Napier in a powerful run to take 2nd Female Junior. Anna Kearney (24.09) and Anna Boyd (24.13) were 3rd and 4th FJ so they all did the club proud. Another debut was Jarlath Kearney who skipped in ahead of his sister by one second. Hopefully there were no sibling wars as a result. Cara McVeigh enjoyed the race in a creditable 27 minutes flat and Matthew Boyd did well to come 86th in the pack of 160 in 30.30. There were 2 more EDAC vests in the crowd but they were on Daddy Duty and as all good dads do they made sure that their offspring crossed the line safely and just a step ahead. Well done to Dillon Hynds and Peter Reilly as you deserve the mention more than your dads!
Jarlath and Anna Kearney after the Strangford 5K
Gavin Hynds giving his son Dillon a pep talk before the Strangford 5K
If it isn’t the Heat, it is the Hills
The Bank Holiday Weekend delivered in terms of the weather and although many opted to relax in the sun, Donal Smith and Seamus Savage decided that Friday night’s efforts were not sufficient to merit a layoff so they headed to Carrickfergus for the “Storming the Castle” event. 885 runners in total braved the heat and the trials of the course. Donal Smith is a tough cookie as proven by the amount of races he takes on but he said this was very nearly a DNF. The hills in his mind were lesser than the Friday race but he struggled with the extreme heat. However true to form, he kept plugging away and overhauled Seamus who had led him throughout. This reversed their finish order from Friday and made it 1-1 for the weekend. They were 247th and 256th in 53.27 and 53.55 respectively. Donal also reported that they got a “Nice t-shirt and a super medal for the early-bird entry fee of £12. Now that’s a value for money race if ever there was one” A commendation from our roving reporter is worth having.
Seamus Savage and Donal Smith after the Storming the Castle 10K
EDAC Branching Out
The only other EDAC representation was in an evolved form – Mourne Triathlon took place in sunny Castlewellan where the run of 5K was the third discipline after a 750 metre swim and a 20K cycle. A few of our members (some of whom are a cross over as part of the newly formed Down Triathlon Club) took part. For Cheryl Denvir it was a battle of wills as the swim was the stuff of nightmares for her but she emerged from the lake in one piece and after a determined cycle was glad to get out on the run (back to her comfort zone). Her predictions of coming last were unfounded and she finished 175th out of 260 with the triathlon box well and truly ticked. Mark McDowell was a good support in calming her nerves as not so long ago he too was a nervous beginner. Hard to believe that now to see him go through his paces. He was able to finish in 30th place and looked comfortable throughout. Michael Morrissey and wife Anne-Marie both club members entered as a relay -Michael doing the swim, Anne- Marie running the 5K and Paul Keary drafted in for the bike leg. Well done all!
Paul Carroll (Olympian Triathlon Club) relaxing after the race with EDAC/Down Triathlon Club Members – Cheryl Denvir, Mark McDowell, Michael and Anne- Marie Morrissey
This week sees a final fling at the track – Mary Peters for the Firmus Fab Five on Thursday. Entries can be taken on the night or if travelling as EDAC Junior you should pre register at https://athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Firmus-Super-5-Series. The Ards 5 Mile is on Friday with a very small number of on the night places left. Laganside 10K is Sunday https://athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Laganside-10k-2019 so it is shaping up for another busy week. Go Team EDAC!