FLAHAVAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES
The Flahavan’s Primary School Cross Country Final was held midweek in Mallusk Playing Fields. Not so long ago we were citing this as the coldest spot in the universe, but on Wednesday past the conditions were unseasonably warm and some went so far as to say tropical , though that seems a little exaggerated! The runners taking part were those who had qualified as a result of their performances in the heats so the field was top quality and the stakes were high. 200 in each race meant that the start was akin to a stampede and it was a struggle to stay on your feet let alone get a clean break. Alex Robinson was the sole EDAC athlete to have qualified and was there to represent his school St Mary’s Newcastle. He came 97th in the Primary Boys. Putting it in perspective, 50 runners went through the line in the space of 10 secs so it is a worthy result. Well done, Alex.
NI & ULSTER INTERMEDIATE & MASTERS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last year the chosen venue for this prestigious event, Barnett’s Demesne, a last minute choice as no where else was available, brought widespread criticism and complaints from runners and spectators alike. Apart from the fact that the hosts decided that several hundred runners cutting up their grassy areas was something they could live without and refused to let their “facilities” be used again for cross country races, ANI could not have sold the venue again to its members such was the underfoot conditions which prevailed as well as the confined nature of the area allocated for the course. So it was to Gosford Forest Park on the outskirts of Markethill, a late winner of the prize for hosting the 2020 event, that the runners had to make their way on Saturday afternoon.
And what an inspired choice it turned out to be. This proved to be the best possible course imaginable, with plenty of room for cars, spectators, dogs, deer and runners. The course, expertly marked out by the hard working members of ANI’s Cross Country and Road Running Committee, took full advantage of the open ground to fashion a route that had everything, a long testing uphill stretch, plenty of downhill to compensate and enough twists and turns to satisfy even hardened followers of an Agatha Christie novel! Not only that but possibly the most striking feature of all was that the entire course was easily in full view of spectators without the need to move an inch! Perfection!, especially for old geezers like me who have bother getting out of the car never mind walking around a muddy field or estate in search of the ideal viewing spot. There was plenty of grass to make the underfoot conditions largely mud free and open to fast times. And the runners did their best to oblige on this latter score as well.
INTERMEDIATE WOMEN’S RACE (3 laps)
The Intermediate Women’s race was the first of the 4 race card, and despite, or perhaps because of, last year’s winning effort by the EDAC squad, the club didn’t have a single runner in this race. The rules are that any runner who either wins or is a member of a winning team in the race cannot run in it ever again. So effectively all of last year’s winning team were ruled out and the club have not yet pulled together a team worthy of competing again. But wait until 2021!!
The most impressive runner in the Intermediate Ladies race from a local viewpoint was Mari Troeng from Newcastle AC, who gradually worked her way through he front runners to claim an excellent 3rd place at the finish line. She was closely followed by her clubmate Joanne Mills in 8th place but unfortunately they didn’t have enough runners to register a team score. The Team event was won by Finn Valley.
MASTERS MEN RACE (5 laps)
East Down didn’t have a team in the women’s race, and unfortunately due to a late injury cry off by Gordy Graham, they only had 3 runners in the Male Master’s so they were unable to register a Team score in this event either. However, the trio who turned out did themselves and the Club proud with stirring performances all round. Neil Curran was first EDAC man to cross the line, working his way through the high quality field to take a splendid 20th place, followed by the equally hard working Martin Willcox who claimed 39th place with Dee Murray pacing things excellently to take 68th place of the 107 finishers. The race was dominated once again by the powerful Mark McKinstry North Belfast, who gave notice of his current fitness and his chances of retaining his Jimmy’s Ten crown on 15 March. He simply hit the front from the start and proceeded to grind the opposition into the ground, increasing his lead lap by lap to finish 19 seconds ahead of Eoin Mullan Omagh Harriers with Patrick Brennan Finn Valley 18 seconds further back in 3rd. Another eyecatching performance came from the evergreen Paul Carroll, who led his resurgent Annadale team home, taking overall 9th place. Finn Valley again won the team prize with Newcastle packing very well to claim 2nd spot.
MASTER’S WOMEN (3 laps)
Only one EDAC runner in this race in the person of the find of the season, Sharon Madine, and again she did herself and her Club proud with a strong running display, to take a lot of top runner’s scalps and finish in 39th position, well inside the top half of the field of 83 finishers.
Sharon Madine after her race in Ladies Masters
INTERMEDIATE MEN (5 laps)
Although EDAC had an excellent 3rd place finisher in this category last year the club was unrepresented this time as last year’s hero, Aaron McGrady, decided not to travel home for the renewal. He is hopefully keeping his powder dry ahead of next month’s Senior c/ships in Coleraine. Interest centred on Newcastle AC’s Patrick McNiff’s attempt to go one better than last year, in the absence of last year’s winner Zak Hanna, and his club’s to retain the Team trophy. In the event he made a pretty good job of it, as leading from start to finish he never looked in any trouble and came home 15 seconds clear of Annadale’s Eskander Turki with Russell White Dromore a further 9 seconds back in 3rd place. Inspired by his pillar to post run Patrick’s teammates all pulled together well to take an excellent 3rd place in the Team competition.
Martin Willcox, Dee Murray and Neil Curran ably supported by Joe Quinn
SOUTH OF ENGLAND CROSS COUNTRY C/SHIPS 15K
In England it was the South of England XC Championships and Aaron McGrady ran well to come 91st out of a huge field of 1172 runners. Hannah Somani had 690 female runners to contend with and she also performed admirably finishing in 120th position. On this occasion they were representing their London club of Victoria Park Harriers &Tower Hamlets AC but both expressed disappointment at their respective performances. Two weeks ago Aaron achieved his target for the Winter by taking 14th place in a Met League X/C race and no doubt his trip to Oman the week before that and his training schedule in between left him feeling legless for the 15K race on Saturday. That’s one heck of a distance for a cross country race! Anyway both the NI & Ulster Senior Championships and Jimmy’s 10K feature for them in the next few weeks so they will get a chance to recover and be on their best form then.
CATHERINE PB IN RAHENY 5 MILES
Catherine O’Connor headed to Raheny for the popular and well regarded 5 Mile race which attracts the speed merchants and fun runners alike. The Men’s race was won by Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 22.40, just one second ahead of 2nd placed Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) and this gives an indication of the level of the competition. Catherine kept her cool and finished in 16th place in the Female ranks which is a superb result especially noting some of the respected names ahead of her on the time sheet. Her time of 29.17 is a distance PB and gives her a boost going forward to the Armagh 3K in a matter of weeks. Super running from a committed athlete. From Fionnuala McCormack as the first Female home in 25.55 to the 1955th Female (yes there were almost 2000 Females and 4000 runners in total!) there was a time difference of over 70 minutes but they all had the thrill of being part of this massive event.
JIMMY’S TEN ON THE HORIZON
Speaking of inclusive events, we hope that our own event Jimmy’s 10K and Relay coming up shortly (Sunday March 15th at 10.30am) will have the same atmosphere where all runners get a feeling of satisfaction whether it be achieving a PB, completing a distance for the first time or the fun of running with friends and family. All are welcome and if you are thinking about it, be sure to enter before Friday as the Early Bird rate ends at midnight on January 31st. Entry can be made online at https://athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Jimmys-Ten-2020.There will be pacers to keep you on track, water stop, chip timing and a great post race spread. First 800 entries get a technical t-shirt. There is a bus to take relay runners to the changeover point. A great day out is guaranteed!
Joe Quinn & Alison Carroll
27 January 2020