JIMMY’S TEN 2019

The beast from the east was well and truly caged this year as the day dawned bright and sunny, though with a noticeable frosty nip to awaken unsuspecting toes and fingers of the small army of East Down Clubmen and their conscripts which descended on the sleeping streets of the county town on “Jimmy’s Ten Sunday”. Their mission was to display the necessary Kilometre markers and warning signs around the soon to be crowded route. Time was of the essence as upwards of 1000 runners and walkers had signed  up for the biggest participation sporting event in the district and with the start brought forward to 10 o’clock to facilitate the Festival parade’s new start time of 1.00pm, it was going to be a tight run affair to have all in place before the runners took over.. But as ever the super team managed it with a bit to spare.

It should be pointed out that at 9.00am the pathway at the Quoile was water free. Indeed it was necessary to consider bringing a brush to clear some of the detritus left on the now, superbly surfaced path, by Friday’s flooding. It could well be that the water which appeared before the runners got there was another example of Patrick’s Holy Wells springing up to provide soothing cool water baths for warm and aching feet! Well why not? After all it was St Patrick’s Day and it occurred near the spot where the great man first landed in this country. Certainly several miraculous times were recorded, at the end line, with 83 runners, as opposed to 36 last year just ducking under the 40 minute barrier and many reporting PBs!

Jimmy’s 10 is the one day of the year when the performances of our own members are relegated to the overall success of the event. It is significant that while almost 50 of our shirts were glimpsed in the crowd that we also managed to drum up over 40 marshals and 12 catering staff in addition to the core team who have been working on the delivery of Jimmy’s 2019 for the last 5 months. Those that ran may well also have helped in the run up or clear up or supplied a stand in and it is this team effort that is most significant in the aftermath. For a lot of the Club their running season only really begins after Jimmy’s 10 is complete and several members ran as pacers so their time was not of personal significance.

AARON STARS FOR EAST DOWN IN JIMMY’S TEN

That aside it is worthy of mention that Aaron McGrady travelled back from his residence in London to take a deserved third place, outpacing last year’s runner up, Neil Weir.  Not only that but a certain Hannah Somani  a member of Victoria Park and Tower Hamlets AC who travelled with him recorded a PB 39.43, to finish 7^th Female overall, just one week after completing her first Half Marathon in under 90 minutes in London. Aaron’s performance was equalled on the female front by Catherine O’Connor who took third spot on the podium in a high quality ladies race which was won in flying style by Newcastle’s Kerry O’Flaherty 34.33, her second win in  Jimmy’s Ten. People ran and walked for Pbs, for charity, for fun and simply to be part of the spectacle. From the comments made post race we managed to supply something for everyone.

MARK MAKES HIS MARK AGAIN

At the pointy end the front line of the race soon split into intense battles with Mark McKinstry running true to form by taking an early lead and gradually stretching to the point that Paddy Hamilton could not hope to reel him back in. Mark finished in 31.11, Paddy in 31.56 and Aaron in 32.30.

It has to be said that Aaron’s time exhibited not only a tremendous improvement of well over one minute on last year’s time, 33.42, but also that he had battled all the way to this podium  having been back in 5th place at half way. He stayed with last year’s runner up Neil Weir when the pair of them caught long time 3^rd placed Patrick McNiff until the final straight when his sprinting power left the Willowfield man in his slipstream. Next year??

KERRY DOES A MARK (McKinstry)

Copying Mark McKinsty’s front running tactics, in a field of great talent and depth, Kerry O’Flaherty took a leaf out his book from the outset and was cruising comfortably long before half way and took the victory in 34.35. Laura Graham still on the rise after injury and layoff found the last half a challenge but still laid down a commendable time of 35.33. East Down’s Catherine O’Connor, winner in 2018, took the remaining podium spot in style in 36.58.

RELAY RESULTS

Lagan Valley Fergus Mcgrady and Conor Doran took the Male prize in the Relay and were the quickest team overall in 36.55. 5 seconds behind were Neil Curran EDAC and Joanne Mills Newcastle who then were awarded the mixed relay prize. The quickest all female team title went to Kirsti Foster and sister Lucy Foster who were home in 38.19 and the 4th fastest team overall!

REMEMBER THE MARRAKESH EXPRESS?

A big Downpatrick welcome was accorded to Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny Running Club, who those of us who have been a fair while in the game will remember from days gone by as the man dubbed the Marrakesh Express after he won the marathon in Morocco in 1997. The former Irish Olympian has long been promising to come and run Jimmy’s Ten but not only did he win the Over 55 prize on Sundaybut also set a NEW Irish Male Over 55 record of 34.45 a day after breaking the half marathon record at Washingbay where he ran 73.40! So there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet! Many Congratulations Tommy and long may you continue to keep the records tumbling.

NEIL’S WALKERS PUT THEIR BEST FEET FORWARD

With a tremendous turnout of 103 walkers Neil Obank’s Fitness and Conditioning members turned out at 8.30am and walked the entire route raising £6,000 for Dramability.  Well Done to every one of them.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE

A huge album of photos is available courtesy of Keith McClure at https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastdownac/albums and a race video has been produced by club member Neil McCartan and has been posted on the EDAC facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jimmy10k/

THANKS TO YOU ALL

Thank you to all our sponsors and to our helpers and a special word of thanks to the competitors who came in their droves and have been effusive in praise of the race, the club and not forgetting the best post race food in the land!

SOME OTHER RUNNING DID TAKE PLACE

Phillip Vint warmed up for his pace making duties on Sunday by running the full marathon distance in horrendous conditions, with rain, headwinds and flooded roads, during the East Antrim 6 hour Challenge on Saturday,  The idea is to run as far as you can round the same 4,25 mile circuit in 6 hours. So he called it quits after completing the marathon distance in 3 hours 22 minutes, describing conditions as the toughest, most unpleasant they had ever run in  while Helen completed 17 miles in 3.02.

CRAIC 10K IN BELFAST

Gareth Amos and Dermot Cahill were the only 2 who escaped from the district to complete the Craic 10K in Belfast on Sunday morning, starting one hour before Jimmy’s. Unfortunately though they survived, I have been unable to turn up any results for them.

Joe Quinn & Alison Carroll

18 March 2019