Anna Gardiner who is the current Irish Cross Country Champion at both U18 and U20 levels produced a superb run to finish seventh in the U20 European Cross-Country championships in Brussels on Sunday running for Team Ireland. She placed first in the Irish team and helped the team place fifth in the overall team standings. From the start of the race she was well up the field and once she got into the top ten she stayed there. The conditions were similar to those at Gowran where she gained her All-Ireland title with the ground heavy and boggy from a week of rain. In fact after the race she said ’it was muddy and tough but not half as bad as Gowran so the team were well prepared for it’.

Her progression by the results she is continuously producing shows how gifted a runner she is. Anna now handles runs on bigger stages with apparent ease. This was her second outing at the European Cross Country Championships improving from 59th last year to seventh this year with still another two years in this age category.

Huge congratulations Anna from all at EDAC. We are all so proud of you.

Alex Robinson was the only EDAC junior representative at the Uneven All Ireland Championships in Navan at the weekend. Anna Gardiner wisely chose to rest her legs for the European Cross-Country Championships in Belgium next weekend even though she is the reigning Ulster Champion and would have been the one to beat in her age category. Alex had gained his place on the Ulster team two weeks previously by placing eleventh in the U15 age category in Donegal.

The venue was thankfully not far away around the grounds of Navan racecourse but the icy, foggy conditions on the roads travelling there raised their own issues. By the time he arrived at Navan the ground had thawed. The course for Alex was 3.5km long made up of two one-kilometre loops followed by one longer 1.5km loop. The ground was mainly dry but the long grass created a different challenge from the mud from previous weeks. The start was uphill before a sharp right-hand turn. The course then had a short downhill section before returning to the start location uphill. This loop was repeated twice before the longer 1.5km loop which took the runners further out. This also meant the return stretch to the finish was a longer uphill grind.

Bends on cross country courses add extra jeopardy when runners try to take the best, shortest line when changing direction so tumbles tend to happen there. Alex was lucky to avoid a tumble firstly at the start when he managed to jump over one faller. Another near miss on the first lap unsteadied his pace but he settled well moving up the pack. On the final lap, before disappearing from view, he was sitting in 13th place. The finish of the race saw the front runners spaced out with the winner finishing in 11.49. When Alex came back into view he was in 15th place out of 146 runners and maintained this place until the finish crossing the line in 12.27. In fact he was given the same time as the runner in 14th and only 8 seconds from gaining an all-Ireland top 12 medal. A fantastic result for Alex in the All Irelands and extra credit to him when he found out that he placed 4th for the Ulster team an improvement from 11th at the Ulster Championships. Congratulations also go to the other local runner, Fahlin Murphy McKibben from Newcastle AC who placed 31st in the same race.

On Sunday morning Athletics Teams from all over N Ireland headed for the Malone Road to the Queen’s University playing fields for the next big race in the Cross Country season. The Malcolm Cup is one of the main events on the calendar and sees Juniors and seniors competing around this flat fast course.

The first race of the day was the Masters race, with three one mile laps of the playing fields and cold damp conditions EDAC had a team of six runners in this race. From the gun the pace was flat out as athletes joshaled for positions before the first muddy climb. Neil Curran who has been in good form of late pushed towards the front and slowly made his way through the pact. Neil crossed the line in 6th position in a time of 17 min 28 sec. Paul Burns also started at a fast pace hoping to maintain it for the full race, with the sticky ground condition Paul pushed to the finish line in 19th spot in 18 min 41 sec, not to far behind in 21st position was Martin Willcox who normally prefers a longer, mad as that may sound broke the tap in 19 min 13 sec. Joe Napier was hot on Martins heels and ran a strong race to finish in 26th position in 19 min 30. Dee Murray was next in and as ever put in a strong performance in 33rd spot in 20 min 15 sec. Wayne Giles brought the team home in 84th position in 27 min 15 sec.

After a number of Juniors races the ladies were up next, it was now raining and the ground was now getting cut up. The five EDAC ladies stuck to their task with Aoife Cochrane coming home first in 23 min 40 sec with a strong run. Ella Carroll was the next Red and Yellow vest across in 25 min 30 sec, Janine Murray was next in 27 min 58 sec 179th position. Alison Carroll always gives it 100% when it comes to Cross Country and put in a determined performance to come in 198th spot in 29 min 34 sec. Last lady in for EDAC was Aine Grant who seems to be getting a taste for this Cross Country thing and brought the team home in 228th position.

The last race of the day was the Malcolm Cup senior men’s race, this was a four mile race, and with the course getting more cut up this was going to be fast and furious with some steady foot work needed. East Down had two athletes in the main race, and up against some top runners Adam Withers tried to hang on to the blistering pace set by the lead pack. Adam W crossed the line in 47th position in 26 min 13 sec. Adam Morgan dug deep and had a strong run finishing in 115th spot in 30 min 10 sec.

A great days running by all club members in some tricky conditions.

The cross-country season continues and this week it was Annadale Striders who hosted the Malcolm Cup races at Queen’s Dub playing fields.

The course comprised one-mile loops increasing in number for different races. U13 kids ran one loop and the combined U15 / U17 two loops with the top six in every junior age category getting prizes. The loops started with a fairly flat section along the side of the lower playing field before a sharp muddy incline to the upper field. It continued around the top fields before dropping down an increasing muddy slope to run the perimeter of the lower fields. The end of the lap was a flat straight run to the finish line or to the start of the same second lap.

The first junior race, after the Masters race which started proceedings, was the combined girl and boy U13 race and had 75 runners from across various clubs. Jarlath Price ran a steady race holding onto his sixth place throughout the race and receiving the first EDAC trophy of the day covering the 1-mile course in 6.09. Luke Napier and Oscar Keown completed the race strongly finishing in 27th and 39th respectively. In the girls race Amber Keown, who is only 9, completed the course in 7.48 finishing in a great 14th place with Aoife Gilchrist on her heels in 16th. Amber’s sister Willow was the star of the day finishing in 25th place in the girls’ race. She is only 8 but was not in any way intimidated by the older runners. A great quality to have for Cross country racing.

The U15/17 race was again a combined boys & girls’ race. Alex Robinson, who was sporting a new pair of white spikes, made his intentions known from the start. He completed the first lap in the front pack with the lead switching between himself and two other runners, Luke O Doherty from Mid Ulster and Tiernan McManus from St. Micheal’s College Enniskillen. Tiernan had won the Comber Cup the week before when Alex placed second. The second hill close to the start of the second lap zapped Alex’s legs and he fell back into third but kept this position until the end. It was only as he crossed the finish line in 11.30, with a well christened pair of now dirty spikes, that he realised the two runners in front of him were in the U17 category and so he had won the U15 race. Caelan Morgan, another new recruit, was the only other EDAC boy and placed in 22nd in 14.02. Cara Napier was hot on Caelan’s heels in 14.15 which placed her 3rd in the U15 girls’ race, her second podium in a week. Charlotte Barr finished strongly in 8th in 16.05. Next prize position was Sarah Gilchrist who placed 2nd in the U17 race. A well deserved second place or Sarah who trains consistently hard every week.

Next race for the juniors who qualified from the Ulster races a few weeks ago is the All-Irelands Uneven Age groups at Navan Racecourse next Sunday. Good luck to all.

Dromore AC were the hosts and the organisers for the second McGrady race on a blustery and wet Sunday morning.

These junior races recognise participation with every runner gaining points for their club irrespective of their finishing position. In short- every team member counts.

Juniors from Newcastle AC, Murlough AC, Dromore AC, and East Down AC ran different distances which increase in length as age increases around the playing fields of Dromore Leisure Centre. Boys & girls from each age category ran together, a welcome relief for all spectators who didn’t have to brave the elements for so long. This also meant that there was more support for the later races.

The Primary 4 and under kids started the proceedings with the 14 boys running 500m over 2 shorter laps of one playing field. For many these children, this race was not only their first cross country race, but their first race. All finished with smiles on their faces supported by their parents and cheered on by spectators. Coen Canavan and Willow Keown both finished in third place in their respective boys’ and girls’ race.

Faith Kelett and Rosa Canavan ran in the Primary 5 race and placed in second and fourth respectively over 750m. Thankfully by this stage the rain had stopped but it still remained bitterly cold.

5 Primary 6 EDAC runners completed the 1000m course with Mack Canavan placing second and Tarynn Smyth placing third. Jude Kinsella, Cara Rogan and Amber Keown also ran in this age category collecting valued points in the series club competition.

Orlaith Keary ran a well-paced race over 1200m in the Primary 7 race. She initially jostling with position with Emily Kerr of Newcastle AC but in the end edged ahead to gain the first EDAC top of podium place for the day. Alice Taylor was the second EDAC runner finishing strongly in 5th.

Dillon Hynds, Oscar Keown, Rory Kinsella, Aoife Gilchrist and Annie Canavan all took part in the biggest race of the day joining 15 other runners over 1400m in the Year 8 race. Dillon placed 2nd, Oscar 4th & Rory 5th in the boys’ race and Aoife placed 7th and Annie 11th in the girls’ race.

The distance for Year 9 increased again to 1600m. Jarlath Price (EDAC) and Fahlin Murphy McKibben from Newcastle AC made their intentions known from the gun and forged ahead. In the end Fahlin edged ahead winning in 5.46 followed by Jarlath in second. The excitement for spectators was increased with a late charge from Fiachna Mcaleenan at the end coming in just one second behind Jarlath. Tomothy Irvine came in close behind in 5th followed by Willaim Taylor in 6th.

The final races of the day were the Year 11 & 12 race and the Year 13 & 14 race which were run together. Seven boys and six girls ran with nearly half representing EDAC running 2000m over three laps. Initially the pace was steady with most of the field together after the first lap. As the distance increased the runners spaced out. Alex Robinson was the clear winner of the year 11/12 race; in fact he came first over both age categories in a time of 7.49 showing his recent good form. Thomas Magee paced well but still left enough in the tank for a final sprint to come 4th . EDAC had a clean sweep for the Year 11 and 12 girls’ race. Sarah Gilchrist placed 1st ,with a winning margin of 30 seconds which can sometimes be missed in a combined race. Charlotte Barr placed second and Kate Jackosn placed third. Jacob Crawford easily won the Year 13/14 race in a time of 8.19.

Thanks must go to Helen McCartan and her team for the seamless running on the day and to McGrady Financial Services for their continued sponsorship. The next race in the series will be hosted by East Down AC at Delamont on the 28th January.

Two East Down AC juniors travelled to Finn Valley Leisure Centre in Donegal on Saturday for the NI & Ulster Uneven age Group Championship. In previous years the course was around the perimeter of three adjoining fields but the deluge of rain over the previous week necessitated a course change since the field furthest from the start was still knee deep in water. Instead the course snaked through two fields making it more technical since it involved lots of turns in the muddy ground and some sharp inclines & declines. On the day though the skies were clear and it was sunny and mild.

Alex Robinson ran first in the U15 boys’ 3000m race. The pace was blistering from the gun so Alex decided not to go with the front runners but to pace slower having learnt from his last race. This meant he was towards the back of the pack of over 60 runners when the race turned for the first time from the higher, drier field into the second, lower lying waterlogged field. At this point most spectators lose sight of the runners as they snake through the second field. It was with relief that when he was next seen re-entering the first field that he had made his way up the pack and was sitting comfortably in the top 20 even though most of the second field was ankle deep in water. He continued to move up the pack going into the second lap and at one stage was in the top 5 but catching up places sapped his energy. A short sharp ascent 20 m from the finished tested all the runners. In the end he placed 11th in a time of 11.55 so automatically qualified for the All Irelands which will be held at the start of December. The final results showed how tight the pack was with those placed 7th to 12th were only two seconds apart.

Anna Gardiner was never really challenged in the combined U17 / U19 4000m, Girls’ race. She led for almost the entire race, seeming to glide above the ground, and finished in 16 minutes, 25 seconds in front of second place. She was crowned NI & Ulster U19 champion and follows in the footsteps of her older sister Laura who held the same Ulster U19 title in the past.