McGrady leads the way for East Down runners

McGrady leads the way for East Down runners

4 December 2024

SATURDAY afternoon saw the last big 10k of the road running season in Belfast. The Seeley Cup which was first run in 1982, commemorates Hollywood man Joe Seeley, of Willowfield Harriers, who died at a young age.

The race, which starts on the Ormeau Embankment, always attracts a top class field and with cool, breezy conditions, PBs were on the cards. 

East Down AC had a big turn out of 33 athletes on the start line and the first club male athlete home was Aaron McGrady, who finished 16th in a time of 32 minutes and four seconds.

Other East Down finishers were as follows: Neil Curran, 35 min 10 sec (72nd); Adam Withers, 35 min 15 sec (76th); Catherine O’Connor, 36 min 03 sec (108th); Matt Bezzant, 36 min 58 sec (146th); Paul Burns, 37 min 26 sec (170th); Hannah Somani, 37 min 55 sec (206th); Joe Napier, 38 min 04 sec (210th); Barrie Atkinson, 38 min 15 sec (224th); Dee Murray, 40 min 13 sec (330th); Jonathan Gelston, 41 min 29 sec (382nd); Eamon Kelly, 41 min 46 sec (403rd); Niamh Kellett, 43 min 00 sec (455th); James Wright, 43 min 43 sec (492nd); John Hanna, 44 min 35 sec (522nd); Stephen Heasley, 44 min 58 sec (537th); Seamus Savage, 44 min 53 sec (545th); Sharon Madine, 44 min 58 sec (553rd); Kieran Keown, 45 min 53 sec (566th); John Tayor, 46 min 01 sec (585th); Paddy McDonald, 48 min 25 sec (640th); Marcus Wiseman, 49 min 05 sec (649th); Nuala Taylor, 49 min 31 sec (678th); Tom McClean, 52 min 17 sec (722nd); Ashley McGrady, 52 min 21 sec (727th); Lesley Keown, 52 min 40 sec (729th); Maureen Kelly, 52 min 43 sec (730th); Matthew Taylor, 53 min 19 sec (736th); Clare Forester, 53 min 29 sec (740th); Alison Carroll, 54 min 04 sec (744th); Janine Murray, 54 min 09 sec (747th); Marguerite Robinson, 56 min 32 sec (770th); Wayne Giles, 56 min 40 sec (773rd).

Members later gathered in Denvir’s  Coaching Inn in Downpatrick for the club’s annual dinner and awards presentation.

The five awards were voted for by club members and were presented by the club chairperson, Stephen Heasley.

The award winners were: Philip Vint, Male Athlete of the Year; Caroline McNabb, Female Athlete of the Year; Daniel Giles, Best Improved Male; Ashley McGrady, Best Improved Female; Paul Burns, Club Person of the Year.