On the traditional busiest shopping day of the year it was not altogether surprising that an East Down team did not make the long journey to Gransha Park in Derry on Saturday for what is the shortest race on the cross country calendar.
But that is not to say that the Club were unrepresented, as a quartet of 2 men and 2 women, Neil McCartan, Michael Cultra, Catherine O’Connor and Carmel Tumelty, bravely forsook the pleasures of retail therapy to compete.
NEIL IS BACK
It was good to see Neil back in action again after a long but necessarily slow, recovery from illness. His performance too must have given his confidence a considerable boost. He placed 14th in 19.41, just 70 seconds behind the winner. Welcome back Neil and well done.
Catherine O’Connor again impressed with an assured run to take 5th place overall in the women’s race and she must view the coming year with considerable hope for the major championships.
Michael Cultra completed fairly comfortably, taking 103rd place in a field of almost 270 runners with Carmel as ever underlining her Miss Dependability title.
WHAT DO YOU WRITE WHEN THERE’S NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT?
Usually at this time of year a review of the year about to end is the resort of most scribes, but that depends on a good memory or good research facilities, the first of which I do not have and the second I cannot remember where to look.
Looking back is one of the things which coaches try to drum out of junior members at the earliest stage of their careers so I don’t propose to show bad example by looking back either. Anyway nostalgia ain’t what it used to be and I prefer to look forward.
AFTER SANTA?
On Monday, Boxing Day, I will travel to Greencastle, Co Tyrone to fulfil something that has been on my bucket list for the best part of 25 years. I realise that bucket lists are not supposed to last for that long but the Greencastle 5 Mile Race has been on my list of things to do almost since I began running. Unfortunately circumstances, mostly I must admit food related, with occasional support from the weather, have prevented me from taking part in what has become one of the biggest events on the NI sporting calendar. The following day I’ll be in Castlewellan for the Cracker Pairs race, together with upwards of 600 other couples. If no-one else turns up at either of these events then I’ll probably win at least one of them.
But enough of this rambling. Happy Christmas everyone.
Joe Quinn
19 December 2016