LES JONES 10K
Brendan Teer was pre-race favourite to make it a hat trick of wins in the Les Jones 10K on Friday night – and he didn’t disappoint. In the lead from the gun he simply floated away from the opposition, led by Newcastle’s ever competitive David O’ Flaherty. It isn’t so long ago that this particular race used to attract all the top NI runners, eager to claim the prestigious title and set themselves up for the incoming Summer season. Not so any more apparently, though Brendan’s time in the wet and windy conditions on a challenging course would stand scrutiny with anyone’s. I have little doubt he would have won irrespective of the opposition as his time of 33.05 was a minute ahead of O’Flaherty’s and almost another minute ahead of the third placed Neill Weir from Willowfield. The only other East Down runner on the night was Gareth Fegan who could be happy with his 49.51 time in his first attempt at this particular race.
3 LAKES 7 and 14K RACES
Having barely drawn breath Brendan turned out again on Saturday morning for the Downpatrick Lions 3 Lakes Challenge races. This year the total entry exceeded 100 including walkers, a sure sign that the event is catching on and will go from strength to strength. East Down had 14 runners in the longer distance and 15 in the 7K. Again Brendan dominated without having to work too hard and completed a second hat trick of victories inside a 24 hour period.
Paul Carroll Annadale Striders took second place, following a week of intensive training in Portugal and was followed in by Ballydrain’s Gareth Lyons.
HOW THE LADIES FARED
The Ladies winner was Rachel Frew 61.52 from Elaine Fitzpatrick (Murlough AC) in second and East Down’s Lisa Burke taking 3rd place.
FUN RUN
Larne’s Craig Hutchinson used the 7K run as part of his coeback from injury and came home in 24.58, though he was pushed all the way by East Down’s James Smyth 25.49 with Lagan Valley’s Callum McCabe 3rd in 26.04. Daniel Atkinson in 4th was first Junior while Edie Carroll won the Ladies race from her sister Ella in 2nd and Roisin Gaffney in third. Mary–Jo Tumelty was first Junior, a much deserved trophy for one of the Club’s most dedicated and consistent participants.
THANK YOU
Fruit and water were on offer afterwards and with this year’s nominated charity, the Downs Syndrome Association, providing water bottles and running vests to all participants everyone had reason to be satisfied with their day. Downpatrick Lions Club wish to thank all those who took part in the races, East Down AC officials, everyone who helped at registration, all the marshals, the PSNI, and anyone who helped make the race such a success. A special word of thanks to Margaret and Geoffrey Ferguson, the ever welcoming and helpful hosts at the Lakeside Inn, who put the premises and their facilities at the disposal of the race organisers and the runners themselves.
The hardworking Lions who marshalled the event superbly on the day, will be looking at ways to build on this year’s success for the future.
SLIEVE DONARD – RACE 5 in the HILL and DALE SERIES
It has been 8 years since I had tackled the Race to the top of Slieve Donard and back to the Newcastle Centre but I had promised myself that if at all possible I would do it this year. Unfortunately the race date this year clashed with the 3 Lakes Challenge so it was going to be touch and go whether I could make it to Newcastle in time for the 2.00pm start. Well to be truthful there was never a doubt about getting to Newcastle on time, the difficulty was finding a parking space close enough to race registration to enable me to get there before the registration closed and the race began. I eventually found some open space in Donard Park, near the Ice House it seemed like and used up a considerable amount of precious energy just getting back to the Newcastle Centre. Anyway I made it to Registration with 8 minutes to spare and that’s when you find out all the things you thought you had packed in your bag but hadn’t, the most important being my wooly hat. Not having time to think before my attempt on Donard was proving a good thing because it meant I was so pre-occupied with getting my footwear on that I didn’t have to form an argument against all the advice I was getting like, “You must be mad” and You’ll get blown off the mountain” and “You could freeze to death up there, especially without your hat”. Straight to the start line with these and other messages of goodwill ringing in my ears and I set off. The sun was shining and there was not an air as we climbed through the trees – so much for freezing – and by the time we had reached the open mountain it was uncomfortably warm.
GOING UP?
The ascent was steeper than I remembered but nevertheless the first time check was reassuring. My target was to get to the top in minutes less than my age in years and when I last climbed in 2007 I just made it under 60 minutes, so I had 68 minutes this year. That’s one of the few advantages of growing older, you get an extra minute to reach the peak for every year you live! The downside of that is that you tend to slow down at the rate of 2 minutes per year! Happily, as the wind which arrived with a vengeance was sideways on as opposed to “in yer face” there were none of those heart stopping moments where I thought I was going to be blown away and when my life flashed before my eyes, though many of my clubmates and friends, Martin Willcox, Diane Wilson, soon to be Ladies winner, Brian Hamilton, Ricky Cowan, Mickey Cunningham and Paddy McDonald to name but a few, did so, as they hurtled past on their way down.
I think I made it. However as my Garmin had decided it would not record elapsed time at altitude and the summit times have not yet been officially released but Jerome McCrickard’s call that I was on 65 minutes as I passed him about 100 metres from the top was good enough for me.
OFFICIALS and MARSHALS – THANK YOU
A word of appreciation here for the hardy souls who man the checkpoints in these events. It’s easy for us to turn up and run, complain about the conditions or some other trivial matter but bear in mind if these people do not make their way to the remotest points on often windswept mountains, remain there for hours on end in wind and rain, waiting for slowcoaches like me, there would be no races. Take a bow you guys, all your efforts are very much appreciated. My thanks also to Phil Gilmore’s wife or if not the young lady who was standing beside him when I emerged from the forest on he way up and who tied my left shoe lace so securely that it never budged, unlike the right which I knotted earlier and which I almost lost in the bog soon after. I hope her assistance will not be deemed by officials as unfair advantage and thus put my time in jeopardy of recognition! And No I could not have bent down to tie it myself, I don’t do multi tasking, I was heavily engaged in standing upright at the time.
THE DOWN SIDE
I was seriously worried about getting down again and indeed was concerned that I might disprove the old saying that what goes up must come down, but the thought of having achieved my target time was inspiration enough to head for the Saddle. No way was I going via the Black Stairs, not until they fit a handrail anyway, even though I knew it would take me longer to get down. Fear and cowardice are powerful motivators!
To cut along story short I made it to the finish in 2.08 and for the second week in a row I made the top 200!! OK so I was 198th out of 202 but who notices that?
CATHERINE LEADS EDAC HOME
It was good to see Catherine O’Connor back in action again as she had missed the first 4 races due to injury. Not only did she make a comeback but she was first East Down runner to finish and took the third Ladies spot into the bargain an indication that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the second half of the Series. Just behind her came Martin Willcox followed closely by another inspirational run from Ciaran Denvir. Phillip Vint, Mark McDowell and Raymond Milligan. Brian Hamilton pipped on this occasion by Ricky Cowan for first in O/65 category and a brilliant run by Mickey Cuningham, descending in around 30 minutes. Paddy McDonald just ahead of John Findlay who in turn was exactly a minute ahead of wife Wendy. Cheryl Denvir was our 3rd Lady home and then came Janine Murray who is to be congratulated on making a great show on her first attempt at this formidable foe. Ext year she’ll probably take the Black Stairs down and will knock 30 minutes off her time on Sat.
And finally a word of thanks to Brian Hamilton and Linda Cunningham who met me on the Promenade and guided me towards the Finish and to Janine’s son Mackenzie whose words of encouragement at that stage were instrumental in getting me across the line.
Never Again – not until next year anyway!!
Joe Quinn
18 May 2015