Author Archives: Aoife Cochrane

Hill & Dale Race 6, Newly Half Marathon and Newell 5k and 10k

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Hill & Dale Race 6 Lukes

Thursday evening saw race 6 of the Hill and Dales series Lukes Mountain. This challenging 7.2 km course starts and finishes at Meelmore Lodge. The race begins with a run up the lane and across the Trassey track. As the runners cross the river they start the climb up to the peak of Slievanaglogh, standing tall at 586 metres, hitting the summit the athletes will get to view breathtaking panoramic views if they take time to slow down to look. From there, they descend down to the peak of Lukes Mountain and finally, take a fast and furious descent back to the finish line at Meelmore Lodge.

EDAC had four brave souls taking on this challenge, with cooler and fresher conditions full body cover was required, so the race was going to be hard work for them. First to cross the line for East down was Joe Napier, on his first outing on the hills this year, he will be pleased with his run coming in 25th position in 47 min 17 sec. Kieron Keown who has now got the taste for this Hill and Dale capper came in 77th spot in 53 min 06 sec. Matthew Talyor was flying solo this week without his dad, and put in a strong performance in 134th, crossing the line dead on the hour mark. Lesley Keown who is new to the club, but has completed all six races so far, Lesley came 209th in a time of 1 hr 22 min, a great effort after some tumbles on the way down. Next week race 7 is Millstone.

 

Newry Half Marathon

Sunday morning saw the Newry half marathon and 10k organized by Newry City runners. The route for the half marathon is considered to be one of Ireland’s flattest, fastest courses. The race starts from Albert Basin, from there runners are directed onto the Warren point dual – carriageway on the hard shoulder. After reaching Carlingford lough, runners are directed back towards Newry, finishing at the Albert Basin. Daniel Giles was East Downs’ only athlete in the Half Marathon, he has been in great form of late and was looking for a fast time. With great conditions Daniel did just that with a PB of 1 hr 26 min 28 sec in 37th position. A great day’s work for Daniel.

 

Newell 5k and 10k

In Coalisland on Sunday morning saw the running of the Newell Stores 5k and 10k road races. Both races start and finish from the Cornhill in the town centre. With a fast flat course perfect for PBs. EDAC Catherine O’Connor was toeing the start line for the 5k and looking for a good time, from the gun Catherine fit the front and ran a strong race finishing first lady and 13th overall in a time of 16 min 52, a great run from Catherine.

Thursday Nights Fab 5

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Last Thursday was the third meeting in this year’s Fab 5 series at the Mary Peters Track. East Down AC had seven members competing over six events. Oisín Taylor participated in the U10 boys turbo javelin and threw a distance of 4.89m.

There was a strong turnout for the U12 girls with Tarynn Smyth, Lara Black, Fiadh Kellett and Isla Taylor all competing in the 150m. A total of 28 girls competed over 4 heats. Taking all 3 podium places were the very talented Dundalk St. Gerards girls. First home for East Down AC was Tarynn Smyth who placed 11th with a time of 25.24s, followed closely by Isla Taylor in 12th with a time of 25.44s. Fiadh Kellet finished in 26.81s and Lara Black in 30.22s.

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Ulster Schools T&F Final

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The Ulster School track and field finals were held over two days last week.  Wednesday 15th of May saw post primary Years 8-10  taking part and Saturday the 18th May was the turn of Years 11-14.  This year, due to construction work at the usual location of the Antrim Forum, the event was hosted by Mary Peter’s track in Belfast.

EDAC had two members competing on Saturday. Oliver Robinson in the 400m and Anna Gardiner in the 3000m. Both qualified by placing in the top three at the District competitions a few weeks ago; Anna coming first then and Oliver in second.   

In Ollie’s senior 400m, 14 runners were listed in the program so two heats were anticipated. This race see participants from years 13 and 14 competing together. In the end only eight runners presented themselves when the semifinal races were called so it turned to be a straight final. This was a great relief to the participants since there would have been a five hour wait until the final if a place was gained. Oliver was drawn in lane three with last year’s winner Cormac Crotty in lane one and second place medallists Conor Adair in lane eight. One new face, Shane Mulligan, lined up and was seen to be the major competition having set a sub 50 second 400m at the qualifying round. Ollie didn’t have the best start but settled well and wasn’t fazed when Cormac drew level with him. On the last bend it looked like there were 5 runners in contention for medals with Shane in the lead. Coming to the line Ollie overtook Cormac and had Conor in his peripheral vision on the right. Shane crossed the line in 49.63 and it was a tense wait to see placings for second and third. In the end Conor pipped Ollie to second in a  time of 51.44 with Ollie just behind in 51.5 gaining a bronze medal and setting a seasonal best.

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Hill & Dale, NIMRA Annalong and Cooley 5k and 10k

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Hill and Dale race 5 Rocky

Thursday saw Race 5 of the Hill & Dale series. This is an open mountain race which tests the runners route selection and may require some navigation skills if conditions are bad. The race starts at Leitrim Lodge with a climb of 405 metres to the top of Rocky followed by more ascending and descending over Tornamock to Pierces Castle with a long downhill to Leitrim Lodge. 250 runners line up for this challenge. EDAC had two familiar faces in the mix, this is Kieran Keowns first season on the mountains and is taking to it like a duck to water, finishing the race in 109th spot in a time of 48 min 37 sec. John Taylor is an old hand at the Hill & Dale and has done Rocky many times and will be pleased with his evenings work with a time of 50 min 15 sec.

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Run the Runways, The Moray Coastal Trail and Slieve Donard Mountain Race

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Run the Runways

Friday evening saw local athletes head to Newtownards for the Run The Runways 5 and 10k hosted by Scrabo Striders. This is a flat, fast race and if conditions are good, some great times are on the table. In the 5k race EDAC had two runners Adam Morgan and Wayne Giles joined 305 runners on the start line for this event. With the sun beating down on the airfield Adam looking for a good time went for it and will be pleased with his time and position of 19 min 53 sec and 28th spot. Again Wayne Giles will be happy with his evenings work clocking 26 min 43 sec in 163rd position. In the 10k Leanne Spick took on 154 athletes in the longer distance which takes in a number of laps of the runways, and Leanne will be pleased with her time in warm conditions of 47 min, 50th position. Well done to all at this well organised event.

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Alex represents Northern Ireland at the London Mini Marathon

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Alex Robinson ran for the Northern Ireland U15 school team on Saturday 20th April in the British Athletics Road Championships. His race was the one of a number of races in the London Mini Marathon where the best young athletes in the country get to compete against each other. He was selected on the back of his performance at the Ulster School Cross Country Final earlier in the year when he was competing against fourth and fifth years. As well as the championship races up to 14,000 children and young people run, walk, jog or push their way around either a one-mile or 2.6K course around St James’s Park in central London. 


The Mini London Marathon was first held in 1985 and took place on the same day as the full London Marathon. In 2022 to make it more accessible it became a standalone event and now takes place the day before the London Marathon.

The Mini Marathon championships has given the UK’s most promising young athletes the chance to compete against the best new talent in British road running. Over the years, the event has launched the careers of international athletics stars including Laura Muir and Josh Kerr. Sir Mo Farah won the Mini Marathon three times. 

Alex’s race was over the same last 2.6km as the main marathon route and passed in front of Buckingham Palace before finishing on the Mall. There was a mad dash at the start and the finish line came sooner than expected. It was an honour to race against the best the UK has to offer at his age and he was pleased with his 8.44 time given his nerves.

Paul Brear-Clarkson’s inspiring story and EDAC’s new Couch to 5k

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Paul Brear-Clarkson Norfolk Marathon (A must read)

Two weeks ago EDACs Paul Brear-Clarkson took on the Norfolk Marathon, which is held in Cromer on the coast. Paul has been training hard and put in an amazing performance of 2 hr 47 min 44 sec coming in 3rd place. Paul was running this event raising money for The Brainstrust Charity and the Tumor Charity.

What a lot of people and Club Members do not know is that over the past two years Paul has been fighting a brain tumor even when he has been competing in races. In 2022 Paul noticed that he was getting tired very easily and kept falling asleep, a bruise appeared on his head which he could not explain, so Alice his wife took him to Addenbrookes Hospital. Paul had a CT scan and was shocked to discover that he had a brain tumor. In September of 2022 Paul had surgery to remove the tumor, he had to learn to talk again, and with seven weeks of daily radiotherapy and 12 months of chemotherapy he started to recover. He is still coping with fatigue from the chemotherapy and having a large part of his brain removed. Paul will be raising money for these two brain charities by also completing the White peak marathon, Mourne way marathon, Ely marathon and Valencia marathon while still recovering from the tumor and the surgery and treatment. To do one marathon after life changing surgery is one thing but to take on 4 is another. And with Alice and the dogs McAuley and Mara supporting him with the massive task, Paul can not fail.

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