KNOCKEVIN SPECIAL  SCHOOL 5 and 10K

I have often been accused of finding particularly hilly routes in and around Downpatrick but I have to concede the honour of the Hilliest Route Finder to the Daye brothers, who on setting out new courses for the Knockevin 5 and 10K races on Saturday managed to  include the Bishops Brae B*** Buster in both. Not that participants complained mind you – they didn’t have the energy for that after running up the hill, but well done to everyone concerned for doing it!!

I was impressed too with the number of Female runners, given the other attractions on offer on the day, in particular a little advertised Royal wedding.

Shane and Cormac O’Hare, Roisin Gaffney and Patricia Carson, Martina Moore with Caragh and Erin

CALLUM, ERIN and CARAGH STAR IN 5Ks

The 5K Run was won by Ballydrain’s Kyle Ross with last year’s winner Newcastle’s Ronan McVeigh 2^nd even though he ran almost 1 minute quicker than 2017, with Civil Service’s Mervyn Chambers in 3^rd place. Callum Kent was 4^th having won the Mourne Stimulus 5K for the second year in a row on Wednesday night. Matthew Taylor finished 1 place and 2 seconds ahead of Cormac O’Hare in 10^th and 11^th positions.  Shane O’Hare did well to finish in 57^th place out of 84 runners while Gill and Gareth Kimpton showed perfect understanding of how to maintain marital bliss by taking 52^nd  and 53^rd places respectively.

A special word of congratulations to Caragh Moore who took a nasty tumble on the start line but undeterred carried on to run the entire distance, finishing with her mother in 43.52 – a very courageous effort when the easy option would have been to pull out. Big sister Erin meantime was racing away at the front of the field and was rewarded with a superb 2^nd place in the Female category, just 16 seconds behind Murlough AC’s in form Leah Calvert, and 20 seconds ahead of Alice Scott unattached, who was in third Female to finish.  Well done to all for their displays of talent.

Erin Moore with her prize for 2nd female in 5K at Knockevin

 10K WINNERS and OTHERS

The 10K was won by Niall Porter (unattached but well worth a place in any Club team) in 36.09, with Newcastle’s long distance specialist Patrick Higgins in 2^nd. Third place was Flying Horse Flyers’ Barry Kelly, showing he is still able to run excellent times and well capable of putting this relatively new local club on the map. The Women’s race was won by Marie Troeng, 8^th place overall who finished just ahead of East Down’s Gareth Reilly, 9^th  making his first appearance in the Club colours, with Saintfield Striders Mairead Faughey in 2^nd and Ballygalget’s ever supportive Letitia Fitzsimmons taking a well deserved 3^rd place. Newcomers John and Nuala Taylor finished in 23^rd and 27^th places respectively and have been advised to see the comments made in preceding paragraph about Gill and Gareth!!

Paddy McDonald looked strong and was happy with 16^th place, as was Roisin Gaffney, well inside the 60 minutes in 36^th place out of 70 finishers.

BALLYBEEN 5K

Catherine O’Connor made an impressive appearance in Tuesday night’s Ballybeen 5K when she picked up the Female winners prize, clocking 18.15 for 9^th place overall, while Dee Murray 18.37 in 17^th  must have been looking anxiously over his shoulder for son Mackenzie 20.45 in 38^th at the finish line!

Mackenzie Murray – Ballybeen 5K

Catherine O’Connor – 1st Female in Ballybeen 5K

LES JONES 10K

Dee was out again in the Les Jones 10K on Friday night, without having the paternal worry of Tuesday on his mind, and is 38.49 gave him 17^th place overall, while Mark O’Connor’s 43.41 left him one place behind Joanne Foster’s 84^th position, which was good enough to get her 3^rd place in the F/Over 35 category. Well done Joanne.

Mark O’Connor and Dee Murray at the finish of Les Jones 10k at Mary Peters Track

Joanne Foster during the Les Jones 10K on the towpath at the River Lagan on Friday night

 HILL & DALE – ROCKY

As we have come to expect Neil Andrews was the first East Down runner to cross the finish line in Thursday night’s H & D race, the famous Rocky. In a field of 259 finishers he was 18^th overall, followed by Gavin Hynds 51^st and Deirdre Weatherall 85^th but 3^rd in the Female Open category, Jonny Kelly 91^st , Paddy McDonald 168^th , John Manley 196^th  as far as my memory goes or can be relied on this was a first ever H & D for John? So well done John though with Lisa finishing in 209^th (good enough to take 4^th place in her age category) my advice to you, already given to John and Nuala earlier, is to also read paragraph 2 of this report and apply acccordingly!!

Cheryl Denvir 227^th  Janine Murray 238^th and Oonagh Breteche 239th were the other East Down runners to finish and complete the perfect ten.

Neil Andrews, Janine Murray, Gavin Hynds, Deidre Weatherall, Cheryl Denvir, Paddy McDonald and Lisa Milligan – Rocky Mountain

NEXT WEEKEND

Next week there are no fewer than 11 running events taking place across NI so if you can’t find something to suit you then you’re probably a swimmer! Anyway from the Runher Coastal Challenge, which I believe is a Women only event?? including a half marathon, on Friday night,  to the Newry Half Marathon on Sunday, there are races at a whole variety of distances, including the Ballyclare May Fair 5 and 10K on Saturday morning at 10.00am and the Carrickmannon Church 5 and 10K on Saturday afternoon at 2.00pm. Registration up t0 1.30pm  In fact why not do two or more depending on the start times, your level of fitness and the condition of your car (or helicopter).

I’m waiting on the results of an injection on Monday before I make up my mind as to what I’m doing  – or until I’m told what I’m allowed to do. (See earlier references to marital bliss!!)

MARIE BYRNE, RIP

On behalf of the Management Committee, Coaches and Members of East Down Athletics Club I wish to extend sincere condolences to the Byrne family, Roger, Elaine, Louisa and James and to Billy Logue, his wife and their wider extended family, on the passing last week of a much loved and cherished wife, mother, mother in law and grandmother. The thoughts and prayers of all of us are with you at this very sad time.

Joe Quinn

20 May 2018