EAST DOWN ATHLETICS CLUB GET FESTIVE

The long awaited East Down AC predicted Time Trial took place on Thursday past on a mild, still night with the biggest turnout in the history of the event. There was a great buzz as runners placed their times trying to predict how long it would take them to cover the 5K distance (3 laps of the Downshire Estate).  After the officials checked that there were no watches or other devices secreted in pockets or on arms, the whistle blew and the runners set off with no way to measure their pace other than feel. Continue reading →

THE SEELEY CUP 2021
On Saturday nearly 800 runners took part in the Joe Seeley Memorial 10k which doubled as the NI & Ulster Road 10K Championships. This annual event hosted by Willowfield and Temperance Harriers did not take place last year due to Covid and was sorely missed by runners and spectators alike. The Seeley Cup is seen as the culmination of the NI road running calendar while East Down AC’s flagship Jimmy’s 10 event is viewed as the season opener. It is a good time to mention that the EDAC race is due to open for entry later this month. Jimmy’s 2022 is scheduled to take place on Sunday 13th March and it is anticipated that interest will be high especially given that the Seeley Cup sold out well in advance. 

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WEATHER WARNING

Sharon Madine in 2nd place with the winner Una Campbell

The forecast of high winds and squally showers for the weekend was somewhat accurate but the timing of Storm Arwen was slightly off schedule with the worst of the weather hitting earlier than had been predicted. Saturday  in fact turned out to be a lot calmer than anticipated and while it was bitterly cold, it was dry and bright. Many country parks and trails had been closed as a precautionary measure causing cancellation of some Parkruns but the Born2run crew who were hosting race two of the Run Forest Run Series in Loughgall had held off making the call regarding their race until early on Saturday. Fortunately although they had to alter the route slightly due to fallen trees, they were able to proceed with caution.   Continue reading →

COMBER CUP

Ballydrain Harriers were the the hosts for the Comber Cup Cross Country on Sunday 21 November. It was the second race to be held at the Billy Neill Playing Fields in Comber this season, but the map indicated that the runners would follow a completely different route than the previous visit.  At first this seemed like a reprieve from the multiple hills that featured in the Bobby Rea event 4 weeks ago but in the end , the new course was declared just as challenging if not more so. Continue reading →

26EXTREME AT TOLLYMORE FOREST PARK

Tollymore Forest Park was the venue for a multi distance event at the weekend. While the scenery is an obvious attraction to the runners, they come in the knowledge that that they will face several hills and off road terrain so it is not a race for those who like to chase times and personal bests. As per previous years, there was a 10K, a half marathon, a full Continue reading →

EAST DOWN AC JUNIOR REPORT

It was cross country all the way for the EDAC Juniors last weekend but one option was closer to home in Ballyclare while the other necessitated a long drive to Donegal. The home birds were running in the U14 race prior to the McConnell Shield XC in the Six Mile Water Park. It may only have been a mile but it was a tough mile. Matthew Taylor actually ran more than a mile as he arrived late thinking he was in the next race on the program and Continue reading →