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 consisted 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 meters from the finish tested all the runners. In the end he placed 11th in a time of 11 min 55 sec 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 4000 m 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.

There was a good showing by East Down AC at the McConnell Shield Cross Country hosted by East Antrim Harriers. It was held at Sixmilewater Park in Ballyclare and despite fears that the recent heavy rains might have flooded the course, the organisers had it set and ready for action. The competitors were greeted by blue skies and bright sunshine and the showers that were forecast failed to materialise. The ground was soft but not overly muddy so all in all it was perfect setting for some good hard racing.

Ladies and Over 60 Masters Men

The ladies went off first with a field of 80 odd females combined with 26 Masters Men (60+). They had a 3 mile challenge on a lapped course with each lap approximately a mile. The terrain is fairly gentle – long flat stretches for the most part with some twisty climbing on a tree rooted trail which can be nasty. Catherine O’Connor went off with the leaders and ran strongly throughout. She may have been slightly disappointed to come 4th despite her efforts but there was some consolation in the fact that she was the quickest F35 on the day with a speedy 18.46. It is also noteworthy that the time gap from the winner Robyn McKee (Annadale Striders) over the top 4 places was less than 30 seconds so she was very much in the mix. It also transpired that her high placing was key in taking the EDAC Ladies’ Team to 3rd position in the team rankings. Junior runner, Abigail Elliott, inspired by her performance in the NI & Ulster Relays was keen to try her pace in the Senior race. She was pleased to be the 2nd EDAC female to cross the line. Her time of 21.37 placed her 17th overall and should be a welcome boost to her confidence. Leanne Spick was 26th in 23.06 looking comfortable throughout. She reported that she enjoyed this far more than her recent outing at Comber. Despite taking a tumble Aoife Cochrane finished smiling in 35th place in 24.08. She must have set a trend as Ella Carroll also caught her spikes on the fake grass covering a path and ended up sprawled in the mud. With nothing hurt only pride she forged to the finish in 46th place with 25.09. Wayne Giles in the same race was jostling with the Male 60+ and he came home happy with 27.55. This left Alison Carroll as rearguard to complete her run in 72nd place just inside the 30 minute barrier.

The McConnell Shield

As soon as the course was clear, the men lined up ready for their turn. They were competing for the McConnell Shield and faced 5 laps therefore 5 miles in total. EDAC’s Neil McCartan regaining good form put it all on the line from the whistle. He committed to chasing the eventual winner (Conal McCambridge of North Belfast Harriers) but after the first lap Conal managed to create a gap leaving Neil to fight it out with the other chasers. In the end Neil missed out on a podium place but not for the want of trying. He pushed hard to the finish coming 4th overall in a time of 27.20. Adam Withers was the next home for the club. He is persistently seeking to better himself on grass and this was a good run for him. He was 37th in 32.22. Paul Burns wasn’t too far behind clocking 32.33 to come a creditable 42nd. Dee Murray ever the club stalwart was 61st in 34.27 and Mark O’Connor ran a very evenly paced 38.04 (85th) to complete the line up. Thanks are due to the host club for putting on a well run day of racing and to the marshals who gave plenty of encouraging cheers as the competitors made their way around the course. Next outing will be back to Billy Neill Playing Fields for the Comber Cup on 19th November.

Saturday afternoon saw this year’s running of the Bobby Rea International Cross Country race, the morning saw all the junior races and after the two days of heavy rain the course was cut up in many places and conditions were what you would say were Bad to Spongy. The Ladies were first off with three 2k laps of the Hilly course at the Billy Neil Centre of Excellence for all things sport. EDAC had four Ladies running in this high quality field with athletes coming from across the UK, Europe and South America. Catherine O Connor was leading the charge for the Club and also N Ireland, being selected for the N Ireland team for this event. Catherine put in a strong performance even with a cold, coming in 11th position overall and third N Ireland runner across the line scoring for the team. Backing up Catherine and next Red and Yellow vest to finish was Leanne Spick, who put in a strong run around this tough route finishing in 95 position out of 253 athletes. Nuala Taylor after watching her children take on the course pulled on her spikes and was pleased with her efforts finishing in 142 spot, Aine Grant who normally likes the tarmac took to the mud to make up the EDAC ladies team, and dug in deep to finish in 216 position. The ladies team placed in 15th position out of 21 teams in a very strong field. Izzy Fry running for GBR won the 6k race in 21 min 18 sec.

The East Down men were the last on, with 8 athletes running with the first 4 in to count for the team results. The guys had four 2k laps to contend with, the ground by now was very wet and muddy

in places with some of the team taping their spikes to their feet so as not to lose them in the thicker mud. Again there was a strong International field of 244 runners, and from the gun there was a stampede towards the first hill. The pace was fast, pulling all runners round the wet course. Adam Withers went off fast and managed to maintain this for most of the race, coming in first for the team in 59th position, next in was Martin Willcox who is an old hand at the cross Country, and crossed the line in 84th spot and was happy with his afternoons efforts. Not far behind Martin was Coach Paul Burns who is coming back into some form after a layoff and found the going tough, but enjoyed the outing coming 90th position, the last counter for the team was James Cuffey who has been dipping his toe in all distances and types of races and admitted enjoying the cross country in an odd kind of way, finishing in 104th position. The fifth man in was Men’s Team Captain Seamus Savage, who admits that X Country is not really his bag, but was supporting the team and put in a determined run to come in 186th spot. Next in was the ever reliable Adam Morgan who has run this course many times and enjoyed the race, finishing in 192th. Not too far behind was X Country stalwart Mark O Connor who has run many X Country races in his time and came in 194th position. In 210th position was Declan Hampton who is more of a roadrunner, but still finished with a smile on his face after a tough race. The Men’s team finished the team event in 9th out of 21 teams with Ethiopian Yohanes Asmare coming first in a time of 25 min 26 sec.

The Junior Cross Country race at Castlewellan Forest Park, hosted by Newcastle AC, was a remarkable showcase of talent by the junior athletes from EDAC. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the park, these young athletes displayed their dedication and skill, leaving no doubt about the club’s bright future.

The EDAC juniors, spanning a range of age groups, demonstrated their commitment to the sport on a challenging cross-country course. Their performances reflected countless hours of training and unwavering determination. They tackled the undulating terrain and dense forests with impressive poise, showing their adaptability to cross-country running’s unique challenges.

Unity and camaraderie among the EDAC juniors were evident throughout the event. They not only showcased their individual talents but also the strong support network and community bonds fostered within the club, underlining their collective success.

The athletes’ performances were a testament to the coaching and support they received, with the future of EDAC looking brighter than ever. The event left no doubt that these young athletes, driven by their passion and teamwork, were destined for success.

In conclusion, the Junior Cross Country race at Castlewellan Forest Park was a pivotal moment for the junior athletes of EDAC. Their determination, adaptability, and unity not only highlighted their potential but also the promising future of the club. As these young athletes continue to compete and grow, they are poised to make a significant impact on the world of athletics, bringing honor to their club and inspiring future generations.

On Sunday morning East Down ACs Catherine O’Connor made the long trip to Davalos Park, Pescara Italy for the European Masters Cross Championships which was part of the European Masters Athletics Championship which is a week long competition. Catherine has been on top form in the past year, and was prepared for a tough 8k race against some tough opposition from across Europe. Catherine will be overjoyed with her performance coming in first in her age group, bringing home a gold medal back to Downpatrick. Great running from an Athlete who is improving week on week.