While many of the senior members were enjoying their day out by the sea at Ballyhornan last Sunday, 45 of East Down’s juniors were competing with considerable success in the 5th and final round of the McGrady Financial Services Cross Country Series in a sun drenched Tollymore Forest Park.

Notable performances were delivered by P4 boys Leo Madine 2nd Kieran Trainor 3rd Alexander Robinson 4th while the P4 Girls, in which 10 East Down girls took part, were far from outdone when Jodi Foster 2nd and Eva Shields 4th continued the good work.

In the P5 Boys race Oliver Robinson, a prolific points scorer throughout the season, was 2nd, while Jack Dornan was 4th in P6 Boys. The P6 Girls however saw a splendid East Down one two with Lauren Madine leading her clubmate Anna Gardiner over the line in the top two places.

The P7 Boys saw good East Down teamwork with Mackenzie Murray 3rd, James Gilliland 4th and Michael O’Connor 5th while in the P7 girls Seana Murray was 7th. Lucy Morgan was 6th in the year 8 girls contest with the Brown brothers Thomas and Harry 6th and 7th respectively in the Boys equivalent. Year 10 Boys race saw Adam Morgan take 4th as Hannah Gilliland and Lara Proctor-Amos were first and 3rd for Year 10 Girls.

YEAR 11 and ABOVE BOYS and GIRLS
Daniel Atkinson led the East Down contingent in the final race of the afternoon taking 3rd place ahead of his club mates Matthew McGrattan 4th , Owen Edwards 5th on his comeback run and Chris O’Connor 6th . The Girls were even more successful in this category with Aoife Cochrane 1st Laura Green 3rd , Ella Carroll 4th and Mary-Jo Tumelty 8th.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS and TROPHIES
All in all a very satisfying afternoon and the participants are looking forward to the presentation night which this year will be on Monday 21 March in the Lodge in Castlewellan. Everyone who took part in any of the Series races is invited to attend.

CARLINGFORD HALF MARATHON
On Sunday past the weather was not quite so benign for runners in the scenic Carlingford Half Marathon though that did not deter almost 650 runners from travelling to the Co Louth venue and clearly did nothing to affect Barrie Atkinson’s performance, as he gave early season notice of his well being by taking a splendid 2nd place in 1.17.01. Other East Down runners who fared well in spite of the stiff breeze in the final 5 miles, were Declan Teague, 34th in 1.27.33 and Michael McKeown 83rd in 1.36.07.

ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY
Sligo Racecourse was the venue for the All Ireland Schools Cross Country Finals on Sunday and with a finish similar to that of Downpatrick’s Rollercoaster course it was not an easy call. Nevertheless East Down’s representatives Edie Carroll was 18th and Hannah Gilliland 21st out of over 100 runners in the Junior Girls race, a reverse of their positions in the District Finals and perhaps an indication that Edie is returning to full fitness again. Laura Gardiner placed 23rd in Senior girls race and all can be pleased with their performances throughout what has been a very crowded season.

JIMMY’S TEN – ARE YOU IN?
It’s Jimmy’s Ten time again on Sunday and it looks like record numbers will be taking part as the race limit has almost been reached and it is unlikely that any entries will be taken on the day. Online entries opened way back in October with the advice to get in early. The race carried the unique guarantee to carry over to next year any entries which cannot be used this year, for whatever reasons, so you only have yourself to blame if you haven’t got a place by now and can’t get one. Last year’s winner Gideon Kimosop from Kenya will not be running this time as he is running in the Bath Half Marathon on the same weekend so the race is wide open and presents an excellent opportunity for a local to get his name on the Roll of Honour.

LADIES TO BE HOTLY CONTESTED?
The Women’s race has the makings of a cracker, with Rio bound steeplechaser Kerry O’ Flaherty hoping to run. She will face stiff opposition from Mourne Runners’ in form and consistent Laura Graham and Newcastle’s NI and Ulster Intermediate Cross Country champion Shalene McMurray with North Down’s Jodi Smith capable of giving them all a race on her day.

EXCITING NEW LOOK FOR JUNIOR JIMMY’S RACE
This year instead of organising a series of Junior races for children on the morning of Jimmy’s Ten Road Race East Down has decided to put on several races for Primary School children on St Patrick’s Day in Market St, just before the Festival Parade arrives. We plan to have races for P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 Boys and Girls. The race is sponsored by the local McDonald’s outlet.

The streets will be packed with spectators waiting for the parade so this is the chance to perform in front of a massive audience. Would you want to miss it?
All of the races will begin and end near the Library and as the time frame for starting and finishing them will be tight every child who intends to run must be at the start line by 1.15pm. The distinctive red East Down gazebo will be erected close by the Library or outside the SERC building as the focal point for children and parents.

Further details next week on the club website www.eastdownac.co.uk
Joe Quinn