It started in the cold and rain, the mud and the sleet on Tuesday morning and ended on Sunday in drier, calmer and slightly warmer conditions but the result was the same on both occasions – impressive victories for Lauren Madine. Firstly in the 3rd round of the Flahavan’s Porridge Primary School Cross Country League in Donard Park and then in the 4th round of the McGrady’s Financial Services Junior Cross Country League. On Tuesday she displayed remarkable maturity for one so young as she stalked the early leaders through the first lap before accelerating away to record her second win in the series and qualify for the Ulster finals to be held next month at Mallusk. She was in the lead from the start in Delamont Park on Sunday and dominated proceedings throughout. Certainly a starlet to look out for in the months and years ahead. On Sunday Lauren led home Anna Gardiner who had taken 9th place the previous day at Greenmount in the Primary School Race. This too was an eyecatching performance from another prodigious local talent.
In the Boys race on Tuesday Mackenzie Murray ran his usual strong race, coming through the field in the second lap to place 6th and to also qualify for the finals both individually and with his school Cedar Integrated Primary. He also was in action again on Sunday and ran strongly to take 3rd in his age group.
JUNIORS AT INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY
Meantime Saturday was International Cross Country day at Greenmount, where apart from those already mentioned, Hannah Gilliland ran splendidly to take 10th place in the Under 15 Girls race, while Edie Carroll finished alongside her team mate Mary Jo Tumelty, after suffering from a stitch just after halfway, an annoyingly repetitive injury which she will overcome with perseverance. Mary Jo is an inspiration to all budding athletes, she goes out, runs her own race, enjoys it and always finishes.
Aoife Cochrane was another to impress as she claimed 15ht place in a highly competitive Under 17 Girls race, in which Ella Carroll showed continuing improvement and was just under a minute and half behind. Laura Gardiner was 8th in the Under 20 Girls race and showed signs of travel weariness following her excellent showing in the international cross country in Edinburgh last weekend,
LADIES STAR
In the Ladies race, Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack exacted revenge over last week’s conqueror Kate Avery but was still only third behind two of the top African runners in the field. Nevertheless this was a very good performance by the Rio bound runner who afterwards showed the mark of a true champion as she posed patiently for endless photos.
Our own world star steeplechaser Kerry O’Flaherty also with Rio in her sights was very impressive in leading the Northern Ireland team to victory in the team competition, placing 11th place overall in a strong field.
East Down’s Ladies also acquitted themselves admirably with Niamh Kellett 31st, Alison Gilliland 36th, Alison Carroll 59th and Janine Murray 67th giving them valuable points in the Cross Country league. Earlier Joanne Foster clocked 42.01 in the Born2Run 10K in Mountstewart.
DEE DOUBLES UP
A patchwork team from East Down also performed above themselves in the exceptionally soft, muddy conditions, with Martin Willcox 56th, Dee Murray 62nd, a splendid effort considering he ran 38.46 earlier in the day in the 10K in Mountstewart, Mark O’Connor 84th and Declan Teague 88th the team scorers, ably backed up by Gavin Hynds, Stephen Heasley and Stephen Cassidy.
HOP TO IT?
Favourite quotes of the day “Should have stayed in bed” from Declan Teague as he cruised past on his final lap of 4 – just think what he would have said if the race had been over 6 as originally intended, instead of 4 laps
And an admiring “Sure one leg would be enough for those fellas” from a distinctly Norn Iron inhabitant as the 3 leading African runners flew past.
McGRADY’S FINANCIAL SERVICES JUNIOR CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE
Sunday saw the 4th round of the McGrady’s Financial Services Junior Cross Country League in the soft ground of Delamont and a good crowd was there to witness the proceedings.
MINUTE’S SILENCE
As a mark of respect for former Newcastle participant Ellen Finnegan, who died so tragically in a house fire on Saturday, Frank Cunningham called for a minutes silence, which was impeccably observed, prior to the commencement of the races. Everyone at East Down AC sends their sympathy to Ellen’s father, family circle, all her friends and former colleagues at Newcastle AC.
So not to be outdone by big sister Lauren’s performances Leo Madine set the ball rolling with a confident win in the P4 Boys race, with Kieran Trainor in second. Jodi Foster was similarly impressive in winning the P4 Girls race and apart from Lauren’s win at P6 level, and in spite of many good performances, East Down had to wait until the final two races of he day before reaching the winners podium again with Edie Carroll and Hannah Gilliland taking top honours for the Year 10 Girls and Laura Gardiner and Aoife Cochrane performing similar heroics in the Year 11 category.
And just in case you think our Juniors can’t equal the Seniors, it is worth noting that all 4 of the aforementioned together with Ella Carroll and Mary–Jo Tumelty also ran on Saturday at Greenmount. And that I think tops the Seniors performances don’t you?
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
The next event on the local front is the Rollercoaster Races on Saturday 6 February at Downpatrick Racecourse and all schools and clubs are invited to send their juniors to this safest of venues for road racing. All the races take place on the perimeter road round the racecourse and there are free refreshments for all participants.
Adults too are welcome to what is Downpatrick’s annual answer to Parkrun, a 5K ace for seniors to round off the day.
Joe Quinn