RED HIGH 10K AND 2 X 5K RELAY
To say that the first ever running of the Red High 10K and 2 X 5K Relay Road Race had a baptism of fire on Saturday might be considered something of an understatement, given the torrential downpour which paid a visit to the county town just as the race was about to begin. In fact baptism of total immersion would be a more apt description. Nevertheless the fact that almost 100 turned out in the conditions must augur well for future years, when conditions will, hopefully, be considerably better. The overall view was that it was an excellent production, with everyone happy to have dipped their toes in the newest race on the calendar and enjoyed the refreshments afterwards.
The race was won by Hilltown man Thomas O’ Gorman, who is a non-club man, purely he tells me because of his working hours. However if he can manage 37.06 over a fairly challenging course in those conditions and running well within himself then he could make a considerable impact on the running scene with club support and a structured training regime around him. Second place went to London based former EDAC junior star Aaron McGrady 37.14, who is presently targeting a marathon as his next challenge, while Francis Tumelty 37.14was third and Gary Flynn, another who would enhance any club’s elite squad., in 4th in 37.53.
JUNIORS and LADIES
Matthew McGrattan ran splendidly to take first Junior prize and 10th place overall in 40.36, ahead of clubmate Owen Edwards 41.23.
Newcastle’s Trisha McKibbin 41.38 won the Ladies prize from East Down’s Joanne Foster 45.00 with Aoife Cochrane 46.35 in 3rd not only claiming the Junior prize ahead of Newcastle’s Kerri Valentine, but placing 3rd Lady overall .
RELAY TEAMS
The first Relay team to finish was Mari Troeng and Patrick Higgins from Newcastle AC in a time of 38.13, with the husband and wife duo of Francis and Carmel Tumelty in second. And making a welcome return to the prizewinners was Kim Surginor, 1st O/40 in 51.34.
FLAHAVANS PORRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE
On Tuesday the first round of this year’s Flahavan’s Primary Schools Cross Country series began with the 1st Co Down round in Dunleath Park. East Down Juniors were prominent in both Girls and Boys races, with Lauren Madine easily winning the Girls race, with Anna Gardiner 3rd and the Foster sisters, Lucy and Jodi 6th and 10th respectively. In the Boy’s race Oliver Robinson was the best placed East Down junior, taking 17th place in a field of almost 140 runners.
HOMESTART SANTA RUNs
The next scheduled local running event will be the Homestart Santa 5 and 10K runs on 27 November, starting from the East Down’s Clubrooms on Ballydugan Rd, Downpatrick. The emphasis in this one will be on having fun and is aimed at the couch to 5K runners and those who are relatively new to the sport but will also provide an opportunity for those more experienced runners who have competed in the Joe Seeley 10K the previous day to run a more sedate recovery run.
Organisers are still working on the details of the route but assure potential participants that it will be flat.
AND WHAT’S NEXT?
And then the following weekend it will be the unique challenge of the Griddle 10K which will attract the runners for the race described as the toughest in Co. Down!
Joe Quinn
17 October 2016