GOOD EVENING OUT

After a quiet weekend on the race calendar last week, this weekend saw a plethora of events which left runners spoilt for choice. It kicked off with an evening race on Friday in Mount Stewart hosted by Scrabo Striders. Starting at 7pm the 10k took place in darkness along the trails. This popular race was sold out in advance.  Gavin McConvey was 94th out of 186 and found the course challenging so he was pleased to come in well below the hour in 58.25.

RESOLUTION 10K RUN

By Sunday he felt sufficiently revived to go again and this time he headed to Belfast for the Resolution 10k which is in aid of the Stroke Association. He was joined by Gareth Amos, Eimear Degan and Matthew Brown( It is rumoured that Matthew is considering

becoming a member as he so often is assumed to be one already!) All of them thought the event was well run and would recommend it to others, especially as it supports stroke victim and had well over 200 runners.  It was a 2 lap course which incorporated the Mary Peters’ Track and towpath. Matthew was the first to finish crossing the line in 53.24. Gavin’s time was 56.31, almost 2 minutes quicker than Friday’s.

Eimear and Gareth kept each other company finishing in 57.54 and 58.16 respectively.

BORN 2RUN FOREST SERIES 

The last of the Born2run Series of Forest Runs took place in Castlewellan Forest Park on Saturday morning. There was a 5K and 10K option. All 3 EDAC entrants opted for the shorter course. Gordy Graham proved a clear winner in 17.12 which was a welcome result after recent injury niggles. Lauren Madine and Kirsti Foster provided a thrilling spectacle for the onlookers at the finish chute as they battled head to head to the line with Lauren pipping Kirsti in the final burst to take first female overall. Well done to all for their podium places.

NI & ULSTER SENIOR CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 

This time last year we were celebrating the success of our women who ran superbly to take 3^rd place in the senior cross country championships and immediately talk turned to improving on that performance in 2019. however , disappointingly there was not one runner in it this year.

So it was with some sense of disappointment that I travelled to Lurgan on Saturday morning in the knowledge that there would be not be any East Down representation in the race at all this year. I suppose hopes had been raised by their spectacular success in capturing the Intermediate Ladies’ Title last month and as ever at this time of year illness and injury are difficult to avoid, but whatever the reasons it doesn’t mask the fact that another year will pass before the opportunity to claim the title will come round again. I believe that East Down could give any club a  run for its money if they can field all their top runners  –  roll on 2020!!

SENIOR MEN

The men at least managed to field a team of 4, the minimum required to claim points in the Cross Country League, of which this was the final fixture in the 18/19 season, and was worth double points into the bargain.

It was left to the experienced quartet of Dee Murray, club captain, Neil Curran, Gareth Reilly and Donal Smith to fly the flag for EDAC and given the quality of the opposition, they did so remarkably well. Neil worked hard throughout the 12K race’ trying to conserve energy for  the 6 x 2K laps, the longest race of the entre X/C League season.  But he quietly made his way through the field to take a great 51^st place just behind his race long adversary Rory McMullan Newcastle. Dee Murray as ever battled through the field too finishing in 83^rd place in the field of almost 200 starters. Gareth too finished strongly to take 105^th place while Donal worked his way home in 174^th place to ensure the participation points for the club. Well done to all for a great effort.

I believe that the EDAC men too could make a big fist of competing for the team prizes if they could field their top squad. So what about it ? Can you respond in 2020?

2018 JIMMMY’S TEN WINNER TAKES THE TITLE

At the front end of the field Jimmy’s Ten winner Mark McKinstry having finished runner up in the last 4 years was in no mood for any errors this year. He stormed into the lead from the gun and had opened a winning gap by the end of the first lap with Declan Reid last year’s winner making a spirited if ultimately futile defence of his title. McKinstry never relented and increased his lead lap by lap to come home to the biggest cheer I have ever heard at these championships, an indication of his popularity and in acknowledgement of how much the spectators felt he deserved to win.

NEVER GOING TO LOSE

Newcastle’s Zak Hanna ran well throughout and finished in a very creditable 4^th , following on from his Intermediate Championship win  a few weeks ago. But like Reid and his City of Derry Spartans club mate Mark Long who was 3^rd  no one was going to get ahead of  the wee man from Glenwherry on Saturday!

LUSK FULL MARATHON AND 20 MILER

Phillip Vint was at it again on Saturday, this time in the Lusk Marathon where he finished in 4^th pace, in a time of 3.11.53.  Also in the same event Mark McDowell was more than happy to clock 3.36 and to take 11^th place overall, while Phillip’s wife Helen clocked 3.24 in 5^th place for the 20 mile option and had every reason to celebrate as this was 5 minutes better than last year.

NI & ULSTER INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ABBOTTSTOWN

At the NI&Ulster Indoor Championships in Abbotstown on Sunday Jodi Foster started her track season off with a 1.53 in the U13 600m which placed her 4th out of 16. She actually won her heat and if she had been in the faster race may have squeezed podium.  In the U15 800m Kirsti Foster was also 4th, but by the narrowest of margins, running 2.25.48 for a season opener which was also a PB by 3 seconds. These performances qualify both girls for the All Irelands.

SETANTA SPORTSMAN DUATHLON

Edie Carroll travelled to Ravensdale on Sunday morning to take part in the Setanta Sportsman Duathlon. It is a run bike run event, a 10 mile cycle sandwiched by two 2 mile runs on a twisty hilly course. She was placed 57/113 in a mixed race and was 4th female overall. She picked up the 16-29 age category prize as her reward.

McGRADY’S FINANCIAL SERVICES JUNIOR CROSS COUNTRY SERIES

The McGrady Financial Services Junior XC Series came to an end on Sunday with the 5th of 5 races this one hosted by Newcastle AC. The numbers were slightly lower with so many events being on but those who turned up gave it great gusto. The thick fog that enveloped Tollymore Forest Park provided an atmospheric backdrop and runners were seen to appear and disappear in the course of each lap. EDAC had their fair share of success and a full report will follow but as usual the club would like to congratulate all on their efforts and also express gratitude to the parents for their support.  A special mention must be made of those who made podium – Aoibheann McVeigh (2nd in P5 Girls), Alexander Robinson and Kieran Trainor who were 1 and 2 in the P6 Boys, Erin Moore (1st)  and Cara Napier (3rd) in the P6 Girls, Oliver Robinson 1st in the Year 8 Boys, Emily Burns (2nd in Year 8 Girls), Lauren Madine (1st) and Kara Trainor (3rd) in the year 9 Girls and Mackenzie Murray 1st in the Year 10 Boys.  Some of these runners have consistently led their age groups showing great tenacity over the whole series.

TEL AVIIV HALF MARATHON

One event that wasn’t in most people’s reach was the Tel Aviv half Marathon. John Taylor took the opportunity of a work trip to take part in this event and although he had to run 6k to the start and only arrived with minutes to spare, he thoroughly enjoyed the flat course and the views along the beach. It was 12 degrees at the start but by the finish 1.51 later it was reaching 20!. So this will make a great memory for his debut at the distance.

ROLLERCOASTER RACES –FESTIVAL of RUNNING for KIDS

SATURDAY 2 MARCH

In the absence of any Senior race on Saturday’s Rollercoaster programme, the organisers plan to turn the whole event into a Festival of Running for Kids aged from P3 to under 15. Even if your child’s school is not sending a team, everyone is welcome and they can enter, on the day, as an individual, just by coming to the venue, as early as possible on Saturday after 9.15 . Sponsored by Phoenix Natural Gas, each child will receive a goody bag at the end and light refreshments will be available for sale to parents and teachers and anyone else who wants them.

JIMMY’S TEN

With less than 2 weeks to go until the big day, the organisers of Jimmy’s Ten report that there are less than 100 places left and if you want to be there on 17^th March you  should enter online now at www.athleticsni.org.  NO ENTRIES WILL BE TAKEN ON THE DAY!!

 

Joe Quinn & Alison Carroll

25 February 2019