Saturday dawned bright, cold and frosty and with a favourable forecast for the remainder of the day the weather was not going to be a deterrent for the East Down squad heading off to the University campus in Coleraine to run in the NI and Ulster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships. However as my day dawned dull, hot and chesty that was enough of a deterrent for me. While I had been looking forward with great anticipation to being there my absence was only helped reduced the spectating total as opposed to the participants. Unfortunately our team had already been weakened by the absence of Barrie Atkinson, to whom we offer condolences on the death of his grandmother, and Francis Tumelty for the same reason as me.
So it was left to Michael Cultra, James Savage, Paul Burns and Mark O’Connor to bid for glory in what was a highly competitive and hotly contested race over a distance of 7.5K of freezing, ankle deep mud. All performed extremely well in the circumstances, with Michael 21st, James 30th Paul 34th and Mark54th achieving a total of 139 points to claim 7th place overall.
NEXT YEAR’S CHALLENGE
Given that the winning North Belfast team had a total of 42 points, courtesy of 3rd 4th 6th and 29th placed finishers and tat the 2nd and 3rd placed clubs had scores of 53 and 63 respectively it might seem that aiming for a top three placing would be an impossible dream. But while it would not be easy it is far from out of the question. The rules exclude this year’s victors and podium finishers from taking part again which gives clubs such as ours the opportunity to win, if full strength teams can be fielded. Last year North Belfast’s score was 176!
NEXT WEEK
Next weekend it’s off to Irvinestown for the next round of the Cross Country League and I’m appealing for a minimum of 12 runners to turn out to ensure the maximum appearance points. If similar conditions to last year apply the “Dirty Dozen” could well be a suitable post race epithet for the team.
ROLLERCOASTER RACES
The Rollercoaster races at Downpatrick Racecourse take place on Saturday 7 February beginning at 12.00 noon. Entries for all races taken on the day.
Joe Quinn
19 January 2015