At the end the year the juniors joined the seniors at the annual predicted time trial and Christmas party. Each junior had to predict what time they could complete a mile and the closest to their predicted time won a prize.
Thirty juniors turned up and discussed run tactics and predictions. The question, that all the seniors also ask, is whether to do a slow, steady run or to go as fast as you can . It isn’t the fastest who wins, just the person closest to their predicted time. On this occasion it was the first finisher Thomas Magee who got bragging rights for the fastest and the closest to his predicted time. Dillon Hynds was second closely followed by Matthew Taylor.
After the Christmas break races return in the new year starting with the Mathieson Cup on the 14th January. Then it will time for secondary school boys & girls to represent their schools at the Ulster Schools Districts Cross Country races starting on the 19th.Jaunary before EDAC hosts the next race in the McGrady series at Delamont on the 21st.
On the Thursday before Christmas East Down AC held their annual club Predicted Time Trial at the Downshire estate. This is a 5k run where each runner predicts what time they will complete the distance, this run is completed without the aid of a watch or GPS. The route is three long laps of the Downshire hospital. The conditions were cold and very breezy and with a great turn out and a final inspection that no time pieces were being worn or carried the athletes were set off. On a predicted time trial it’s not who runs the fastest, it’s who can pace their run closet to the time they wrote down before the start. A number of runners put their heads down and went for, but most were playing a more tactical game. Once all runners finished their run coach Paul Burns and his team started working out the results while the runners had a cup of tea and mince pie and tried to work out how they did.
Once the results were in the the top three were announced to the waiting crowd, In joint second place was Nuala Taylor in a time of 25 min 12 sec, predicted time of 25 min dead and Jame Cuffey in 18 min 58 sec predicted time of 19 min 10 sec so both athletes were 12 seconds out. The top spot went to Roisin Gaffey who ran a canny 5k with a predicted time of 28 min 28 sec and crossed the finish line in 28 min 18 sec a difference of ten seconds, a great and enjoyable club event.
EDAC Annual Awards
After the time trial the Annual East Down AC awards were presented. All club members have the opportunity to vote for the five categories. EDAC Male and Female Athlete of the year, most improved Male and Female Athlete of the year and Club Person of the Year. Many nominations were put in for all categories, especially Club Person of the year. The Awards went to.
Male Athlete of the year – Aaron McGrady
Female Athlete of the year – Catherine O Connor
Best improved Male Athlete – Daniel Giles
Best Improved Female Athletes – Aine Grant and Leanne Spick
EDAC Club Person of the Year – Paul Burns
Well done to all Athletes that were nominated.
London Marathon Club Ballot
To finish off the night the club held the Club ballot for its slot in the 2024 London Marathon. Each running club in the UK is allocated a slot or slots depending on the size of the club. EDAC has an criteria before an athlete can put their name into the hat for the ballot. This year three members met that criteria and were in with a shout. The lucky runner’s name was picked out of the hat by Wayne Giles. Barrie Atknison was the lucky winner, with Joanne Carson as reserve, good luck to Barrie for the race.
From all the members at East Down AC have a happy Christmas and a Great New Year.
We think we can help you with answers to any or all of these.
Want to find out more?
Come along to our Clubrooms on Thursday 28 January 2016 at 8.30 pm( after training)
Everyone welcome, whether a member of East Down AC, some other club, or none.
We think we have enough experience, especially on how NOT to run a marathon, and which has been largely kept secret but which needs to be put to good use, to help.
Look forward to seeing lots of you there – we might even manage a cup of tea or coffee, before such luxuries are banned!!
Joe
PS – If this is too short notice for you we’ll do it again on Thursday 4th February
EDAC Club rooms, Tuesday 20th October 2015 from 7:30-9:00pm
Please see below your invitation to this presentation. I think it will be a very informative night and will be of great interest to coaches, parents, volunteers and members. Please let me know if you’re coming.
As you may have heard, on 1st July 2015 I took on the challenge of Director of Coaching and Athlete Development at Athletics NI. My role focuses on helping athletes to reach their potential by ensuring a transparent pathway exists from grassroots to high performance. A key part of this will be directly supporting clubs and coaches to help them meet their athletes’ needs.
With this in mind, I am very interested in hearing from clubs, officials, volunteers, coaches and athletes about what they think needs to happen to improve Athletics in Northern Ireland. I am particularly interested in hearing about:
The barriers you face while operating in Northern Ireland
The key areas you would like more support and resources to be focused on
The key topics you feel you need more advice on such as event technical knowledge, nutrition, strength and conditioning, annual planning, example sessions for young athletes etc.
You are cordially invited to attend a meeting to discuss these matters at East Down AC Club House (Gates prior to Downpatrick Farm & Garden Supplies Ltd), Ballydugan Industrial Estate, Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6DL on Tuesday 20th October 2015 from 7:30-9:00pm.
I hope very much that yourselves or someone from your club will be able to make it. Please RSVP by email to myself at tcrick@athleticsni.org.
The Club’s new HQ in Ballydugan Industrial Estate will be formally opened on Saturday 7 March at 11.30am. The President of Athletics NI, Gary Keenan will be in attendance together with other ANI officials and guests and light refreshments will be served. All members are cordially invited to attend also (but please RSVP to Joe on 07933214894, or by email: joemarathon50@btinternet.com, to assist catering arrangements).
Prior to that however we are calling on you all to attend on Saturday 28 February at 12.00 noon to help put the finishing touches to the premises and to tidy up outside and in. If possible please come armed with yard brushes, shovels, paint brushes, mops buckets, long armed window brushes, dusters, step ladders, plenty of elbow grease etc. If you are unable to bring your own tools, warmed up implements will be provided on arrival.
On the basis that many hands make light work it would be our hope that the work could all be completed on Saturday, but failing that it might be necessary to continue on Sunday 1 March.
Because of this clean up the rooms will NOT be available for junior training on Thursday night 5th March and only for registration on Monday 2 March.”
Adam from Team Wear Ireland will be presenting the new EDAC sports clothing (again …… for the first time), ranging from racing vests to full track suits. There will be an opportunity for you to place an order with Adam at the presentation. The presentation will take place between 7:00pm and 7:30pm at the Club Rooms on Thursday 22nd January 2015.
Additional orders can be purchased through EDAC website (this process will be confirmed following the presentation). The price of all clothing items will be available at the presentation.
Adam from Team Wear Ireland will be presenting the new EDAC sports clothing, ranging from racing vests to full track suits. There will be an opportunity for you to place an order with Adam at the presentation. The presentation will take place between 6:45pm and 7:30pm at the Club Rooms prior to the AGM on Tuesday 13th January 2015.
Additional orders can be purchased through EDAC website (this process will be confirmed following the presentation). The price of all clothing items will be available at the presentation.
