Jodi lifts silver at Castlereagh

Jodi lifts silver at Castlereagh

13 December 2017

CONDITIONS were good at the Henry Jones pitches in the Castlereagh Hills last Tuesday morning for round two of the Flahavan’s Porridge Primary School Cross Country League, but the course was tricky with lots of twists and turns and a narrow, root strewn stretch through the forest that was technically challenging and a short finishing straight. 

However, East Down’s Jodi Foster ran a mature race, sitting in the bunch before making her bid for the winner’s spot as the line approached.

She only just failed to catch Moneyrea’s Lauren Ramsay, but finished clear of Lough View Integrated’s Erin Cross. Her younger sister, Kari, who is still under age in this level of competition, more than held her own and could be more than pleased with her 16th place out of 127 finishers.

In the boys’ race Ollie Robinson survived a home straight buffeting to claim fifth place, having contested the lead with a group of several others most of the way. His younger brother Alex, like Kari, still under age, also ran really well to claim 67th place out of a strong field of 130 finishers. 

Both boys were representing St Mary’s Primary School, Newcastle and it’s a pity they couldn’t find another four boys to make up a team in this important stage of their sporting development.

Well done Crossgar

It was only due to the Herculean efforts of the Crossgar Harriers club and the Daye brothers on Sunday morning that the Santa 10k and 5k races went ahead in Crossgar in the afternoon. 

A squad of the club members and race organisers spent four hours clearing ice and snow from the route, which had to be drastically modified because some of the roads were impossible to make safe in time. 

And their efforts were rewarded with a total of over 130 runners across both categories. While this total was considerably down on last year’s entry, it was nevertheless an excellent turnout given the weather and a vindication of all the hard work which went into staging the event. 

Well done all you guys and gals for your efforts and thanks to the PSNI who played a significant role in  agreeing the 

revised route and instructing the runners on where to run to get the best underfoot conditions. 

A big thank you to all the marshals who stood their ground for hours, possibly in some cases frozen to it, to give slow old codgers like me, friendly encouragement all the way round and to the very end.

Safety in numbers

The runners all set off together, possibly hoping to benefit from the heat and shelter afforded by belonging to the group, but this notion quickly dissipated as the field strung out through the beautiful surroundings of Tobar Mhuire Monastery grounds, with everyone trying to get warm in the sub zero temperatures. 

Those who managed it better than the others included East Down’s Callum Kent, who as usual, ran very well to take fourth place in 23.22 in the 5k, with Gavin McConvey, 11th in 28.49, the only other EDAC representative in the shorter distance.

The 10K

The longer distance event was better supported by East Down runners, with seven entries, and it was good to see the Findlays out and about again, with Conor taking the honours by not only finishing as the leading East Down runner in 24th place, but also finishing ahead of dad John and mum Wendy, who were 27th and 28th respectively. 

Our honorary member, Michael Kelly, was 32nd in a very respectable 56.19, while Sinead Kinsella, made a welcome reappearance and finished just one place further back. 

The best run of the day has to be Roisin Gaffney’s 43rd place finish in 59.36, which was completed in bare arms. Brrrrr! I don’t know whether Roisin supports the American constitution or not, but if she does I think I’d leave their right to bare arms to them or at least until the summer months.

Nicole Laverty ran well to make up ground after her usual slow start and eventually finished 45th, but is well capable of breaking the 60 minutes when she gets her mojo working again.

Karen McFall, in her Help the Aged role, was 52nd, but like Nicole, has much more to give. I was officially TEC again, but 46 places ahead of last year’s placing so what more would have made it a perfect day out? Only a cup of hot soup and a bowl of spaghetti bolognese, or pasta or paella perhaps? Well all four and more were supplied in more than ample quantities, courtesy of the Catering Class Project Team from SERC. Superb food folks, well done to all concerned.

Other news

Linda Cunningham and sister Jackie Moore from Murlough completed yet another marathon in Clonakilty on Sunday and, no, I still haven’t found out where it is.

Weekend action

It’s a long way to Derry for the 6k combined men and women cross country league fixture on Saturday, while nearer home there’s the Kilmood Santa Dash at 2pm from Kilmood Church Hall and the ever-supportive Ballygalget AC are promoting a 5 and 10k Santa Run, beginning at 11.30am from Mitchel Park. If you’re really keen and have a helicopter handy you could do both.

Meanwhile, a contingent of juniors are heading for Waterford for the All-Ireland Uneven Age Group Championships on Sunday.

Unfortunately, I won’t be at any of these venues as I have been asked to come and see Santa on Sunday afternoon. Come to think of it, speaking of helicopters Santa sounds like just the boy to sort that one out – though probably only in time for the 2018 fixtures.