THE SEELEY CUP 2021
On Saturday nearly 800 runners took part in the Joe Seeley Memorial 10k which doubled as the NI & Ulster Road 10K Championships. This annual event hosted by Willowfield and Temperance Harriers did not take place last year due to Covid and was sorely missed by runners and spectators alike. The Seeley Cup is seen as the culmination of the NI road running calendar while East Down AC’s flagship Jimmy’s 10 event is viewed as the season opener. It is a good time to mention that the EDAC race is due to open for entry later this month. Jimmy’s 2022 is scheduled to take place on Sunday 13th March and it is anticipated that interest will be high especially given that the Seeley Cup sold out well in advance. 

The Joe Seeley offers a flat and fast course starting on the Ormeau Embankment in Belfast with two and a bit laps through the Ormeau Park. For those watching or racing it was a sharp cold day but miraculously the heavy rain and high winds that preceded the 2.30pm start died down just in time to let the runners have a fair crack at a good performance. At the pointy end there were small clusters of runners who made a break early on in the first lap and then a lead group of five formed as they headed out for lap 2. The huddle of five then broke apart in the last 3K as they hurtled towards the finish line in break neck speed. The overall winner Owen Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) only edged for glory in the last 2 strides as right to the mat it was not clear who would breach the tape first. His time of 30.19 was 2 seconds ahead of Matthew Neill (Strive Racing Club) who was 1 second ahead of third placed Eskander Turki (Annadale Striders). The top 11 competitors were all sub 31 minutes for 10K which is fast by any means. East Down AC’s Neil McCartan who prefers shorter distances and would choose track over road running, finished in a commendable 31.54. This is not a personal best time but given that this is his first serious attempt at a 10K in 3 years he will be more than satisfied. This got him well inside the top 30 in 24th place. Neil Curran reaped the rewards of his consistent cross country racing converting the stamina gained in that discipline to a strong road performance. He was chuffed to take 10 seconds off his previous best time and at 35.01 is well poised to run a sub 35 minute 10K in the near future. He said that he ran conservatively off the start as he was fearful of overcooking it and as a result ended up running solo for a large part of the distance. This is a hard way to race but  gives him plenty to work with in his next event. 

MACKENZIE TAKES JUNIOR TITLE

Mackenzie Murray was taking on his first ever 10K and well warned to pace it carefully, he ran a superb race in 35.49. Many runners set sub 40 minutes for 10K as a good base goal but he smashed that and some. He was even more delighted to discover that he was the quickest Junior athlete on the day by well over a minute. As mentioned this race stood as the NI&Ulster Championship so he gains that title as well as a Seeley Cup age group win. A great achievement!  It was actually a hat trick as he also snatched bragging rights in the Murray family as his dad Dee and mum Janine were also racing on the day. Dee was next home for EDAC in a very respectable 38.57. Dee has been troubled by niggles and was not even sure if he was going to start let alone finish so being able to take part was more important than the result. Seamus Savage who was the next EDAC finisher is training hard to regain fitness and based on his current form he went in not expecting too much. While he enjoyed the race, he found it tough in the latter half. He can take his time of 46.03 as a bench mark as he aims to work on his speed in the coming months. 

AND THE LADIES?

The overall standard of the female field compared well with the men’s with the top lady coming home in 33.31.  Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC) is an experienced runner who as a Veteran Over 40 showed that age is no barrier in her case. Aoife Kilgallon (Sligo AC) 33.47 and Nakita Burke (Letterkenny AC) 34.14 completed the podium. EDAC’s interest lay with their own three runners. Leanne Spick having recently completed her first cross country was keen to try her first 10K. She is enjoying being part of a club and the support that this garners. She reacted well to the shouts of encouragement and finished sub 50 minutes a bit ahead of Janine Murray who recorded 49.30 despite a hamstring niggle. While the Seeley Cup is seen as a fast race it is also inclusive with many targeting the distance rather than a specific time. Sam Anderson was glad of the cheers of club mates as she battled to the finish in an hour and 7 minutes. Another race ticked off by this consistent attender. Good work by all three.

ALL IRELAND (UNEVENS AGE GROUP) CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Robinson brothers Oliver and Alex ended off their 2021 cross country season with a trip to the Uneven Age Group All Irelands Cross Country in Gowran, Kilkenny on Sunday. The sun shone all day but the temperature stayed low with the ground remaining icy in parts.

Alex had gained his U13 Ulster team place by coming 6th at the Ulster & NI race in Donegal a few weeks previously so he had set his expectations high. His race was 2500m around a very twisty course through long grass all of which made it more technical than previous races. The start of any cross-country race is hectic with lots of jostling and this was no exception. Alex was pulled back when the gun went off and then had to contend with some fallers so he never really got into his stride. He was disappointed to place 74th out of a field of 165 runners but deserves huge credit for his commitment over the last few months.

Alex’s older brother Oliver was running for the Down team in the U17 race. He was probably one of the youngest in the 118 field having celebrated his 15th birthday a few days before hand so had no expectations and therefore maybe put less pressure on himself.  He had a great run in the end taking 1 minute 12 seconds of his previous road 5k personal best completing the course in 17.16. He placed 48th and was second Down team member home. Both boys have done their club proud and their parents also deserve medals for acting as support crew on multiple weekends. They will all be glad of a rest before racing resumes in January. 

DILLON DOES 5K

Gavin Hynds as a long term member of East Down AC was delighted when his son Dillon Hynds decided to follow in his footsteps by signing up to the EDAC Junior Section. Dillon has been attending sessions since September, gaining confidence each week, so when his school, Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary, announced a fundraiser 5k fun run and walk he felt that he might be fit to take part as a runner. On Saturday morning despite the horrible weather conditions, he set off to the RGU in Downpatrick with Gavin as his sidekick. 5K is a long way at Dillon’s age but to give him his due he stuck at it and made it to the finish with a bit of encouragement from his dad. Super effort, Dillon!