Hill & Dale Race 7 Millstone
Race 7 of the Hill & Dale series is Millstone, this may not be one of the highest of the Mourne peaks but is certainly among the steepest, with most runners resorting to all fours to climb above the quarry before a technical descent into the forest and the finish line at Donard Park. Four EDAC members took on this steep 500 m elevation 8.5km challenge on Thursday. This was Paul Brear Clarkson first outing this season and he took the bull by the horns with a top ten finish coming in 7th position in a great time of 40 min 46 sec. Next to cross the finish line was Kieran Keown who is enjoying the challenge of the series and will be happy with his time of 54 min dead 104th position. Not too far behind was old hand John Taylor in 114th spot clocking 55 min 06 sec. Lesley Keown who like her husband is enjoying her first season on the mountains had another strong run placing 241st position in 1 hr 16 min.
European Mountain Running Championships France
On Friday morning in Anncey in the French Alps the Irish mountain running team competed in the European Mountain Running Championships which is made up of ten races, with the team up against 600 of the top hill and mountain runners in europe. East Downs Aaron McGrady again represented Ireland and was competing in the Mens Uphill Elite Race. The course was 7.6 km long with 980 metres of ascents and conditions were wet and blustery and with Aaron up against the best in Europe it was to be tough going. Aaron took on the challenge and crossed the line in 54th position in a time of 53 min 39 sec, with the Ireland team finishing in 13th out of 17th strong teams. Well done to all the Ireland team.
Anna Grabs second at All Ireland Schools
On Saturday at Tullamore Harriers Stadium, EDACs Anna Gardiner ran her last race for Assumption Grammar School. Anna came 2nd in the Senior Girls 3000m. From the gun the race was evenly paced with the pack staying together until the last 600 metres. The eventual winner Clodagh Gill then gradually stretched out at the front. Anna and Lorraine O’Connor upped their pace on the last lap but couldn’t reign Clodagh in and she crossed the line in 10 min 01 sec. In the end it was a battle for second with Anna piping Lorraine to the line in 10 min 03 sec 58 with Lorraine in third in 10 min 03 sec 75. A great last outing for Anna.
East Down members at the Mary Peters track for the Thursday training session
James Magennis and his team with the first Couch to 5k recruits at Dunleath Park