EDAC Club Predicted Time Trial

East Down AC had a busy week with activity kicking off on Thursday with the Club Predicted Time Trial. This is normally a festive event but the icy conditions in December put paid to that. Despite the lack of santa hats and mince pies, there was a fantastic turnout. It was a chilly evening but fortunately it stayed dry. Each runner had to log the time that they thought that it would take them to run the 5K distance (3 laps of the Downshire) and then attempt to match that without using a watch or any other means of measuring their time. There was some sharp pacing and game playing as people refused to say what pace they were aiming for in case it gave some sort of assistance to their competitors. Some picked a slow time thinking that it would be less pressure and some went for a fast time, thinking that running as hard as they could would be a good approach. 

Awards and Prizes

In the end the top 3 were impressively close to their mark. First place went to one of the O16 Juniors – Jacob Crawford – who was 4 seconds out. Neil McCartan (5 seconds out) took second place and Aaron McGrady was third (7 seconds out). After all the runners had crossed the line there were refreshments and a prize giving. As well as the Time Trial Prizes and spot prizes, the EDAC Club awards for 2022 were presented as follows. Congratulations to all.

EDAC Male 2022 –
Neil McCartan (outstanding results in cross country season 22 including 3rd at both the Intermediate and Senior Championships as well as strong performances on track and a win at Jimmy’s 10 2022)

EDAC Female 2022Catherine O’Connor ( won the Masters XC Trial as well as other local cross country events; selection to NI XC Team plus a win at the Drogheda 5K)

EDAC Most Improved Male 2022

Jointly awarded to Seamus Savage and Eamon Kelly (Both men have improved their  race times and trained consistently to move up from 10K to half marathon to full marathon in the last 12 months)

EDAC Most Improved Female 2022

Sharon Madine (a versatile runner who can turn out good times in 5K,10K and in cross country; a regular on podiums in local races)

EDAC Club Person 2022

Jointly awarded to Alison Carroll and Tom McClean (both give willingly of their time to enable the smooth running of the club)

Born2Run Forest Series – Antrim

Fast forward to the weekend and Saturday was the 5th and penultimate race in the Born2Run Forest Series. This event took place in the scenic grounds of Antrim Castle. 3 EDAC runners turned out to represent the club. James Cuffey who joined recently is enjoying the camaraderie of training sessions and is reaping the rewards of his consistent training. He decided to take on the 10K route which took in the ruins of Shane’s Castle (where runners enjoyed some fantastic views of Lough Neagh) before returning through the immaculately kept gardens and woodland trail of the Castle Gardens. He finished in a very decent time of 41.31 which placed him 45th of 534 entrants.

The 5K was mainly within the Castle Gardens with a small section on the main road. The course was fast and flat although it had quite a few twists and turns. Anna Gardiner fresh from her great performance in Belgium representing Ireland in the World Cup Series Cross Country was off like a whippet in the 5K. She came in First Female and was in fact 3rd overall which is worth an extra mention. Sharon Madine also took on the 5K, running a speedy 21.56 which got her 3rd Female and 13th overall out of 142 runners. Well done All!

NI&Ulster Intermediate Cross Championships

On Sunday Neil McCartan made the journey to Carndonagh for the NI & Ulster Cross Intermediate Country Championships. This was a rescheduling of the race after it was cancelled the previous week due to snow and ice. The distance to travel and the change of date impacted on the final entry but it was still a hotly contested event at the top end. Having placed 3rd in the same event in 2022, Neil was out to make the podium and went off hard with the leaders. At times he was so close on the heels of Gary Crummy from Newry AC that it was hard to tell who was who and even when Gary edged out a gap, Neil kept pushing hard to maintain contact. The weather was not very kind, very strong gusty winds and a steady downpour meant that the runners were battling the elements as well as fatigue. In the end Gary Crummy took the win in 25.35 with Neil placing 2nd in 26.06. Third place went to Timothy Johnston of Annadale Striders in 26.41. Well done to Neil, adding another Championship medal to his collection – good work!

Jimmy’s 10 2023

Entries are continuing to flood in with athletes keen to take part in this popular event. The first 800 are guaranteed a technical t-shirt with the 2023 logo and all runners will get a chipped time with water, snacks and a BBQ supplied by sponsors Finnebrogue Artisan at the finish. If you wish to find out more, head to the Jimmy’s 10 page on the EDAC website www.eastdownac.co.uk or contact racedirector@eastdownac.co.uk to ask for details.

McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country

Tollymore  Forest Park was the venue for the second race of the McGrady Financial Services Series hosted on Sunday by Murlough AC. Although the day was dry, the bitterly cold, strong wind made racing a challenge especially on the final long stretch along the avenue where the young athletes felt its full force head on. All the runners gave it their best effort, digging in to earn valuable points for their various clubs. The races had multiple distances for the different age groups finishing around the War Memorial. For the older runners there was one particularly tough uphill section to test the runners. EDAC was represented by 25 Juniors which was a decent turnout given the weather. A shoutout to those who made podium; Year 8 Boys – Jarlath Price (2nd), Jarlath Kearney (3rd), Year 9 Girls – Jessica Martin (2nd), Year 10 Boys – Alex Robinson, Thomas Magee and Eoin Rooney were 1, 2 and 3, Year 10 Girls –  Cara Napier (2nd), Charlotte Barr (3rd), Year 11+ Boys – Oliver Robinson (1st), Jacob Crawford (2nd), Year 11+ Girls – Rebekah Wilson (3rd)

Thanks are due to the sponsors McGrady Financial Services, all our runners and to the parents who took time out of the weekend to bring their children along and to cheer them to the finish. Well done also to MAC for a great event. The runners will barely have time to clean their spikes before they are in action again. This Sunday Race 3 takes place in Delamont Country Park with East Down AC the hosts on this occasion.