McKinstry is on the mark at Jimmy’s 10

20 March 2019

THE Beast from the East was well and truly caged this year as the day dawned bright and sunny, although with a noticeable frosty nip to awaken unsuspecting toes and fingers of the small army of East Down clubmen and their cons which descended on the sleeping streets of the county town on Jimmy’s Ten Sunday.

Their mission was to display the necessary Kilometre markers and warning signs around the soon to be crowded route.

Time was of the essence as upwards of 1,000 runners and walkers had signed up for the biggest participation sporting event in the district and with the start brought forward to 10am, to facilitate the festival parade’s new start time of 1pm, it was going to be a tight run affair to have all in place before the runners took over.

But, as ever, the super team managed it with a bit to spare.

It should be pointed out that at 9am the pathway at the Quoile was water free. Indeed, it was necessary to consider bringing a brush to clear some of the detritus left on the now, superbly-surfaced path, by Friday’s flooding.

It could well be that the water, which appeared before the runners got there, was another example of Patrick’s Holy Wells springing up to provide soothing cool water baths for warm and aching feet — well why not?

After all, it was St Patrick’s Day and it occurred near the spot where the great man first landed in this country. Certainly, several miraculous times were recorded, at the end line, with 83 runners, as opposed to 36 last year just ducking under the 40 minute barrier and many reporting personal bests.

Jimmy’s 10 is the one day of the year when the performances of our own members are relegated to the overall success of the event.

It is significant that while almost 50 of our shirts were glimpsed in the crowd, that we also managed to drum up over 40 marshals and 12 catering staff in addition to the core team who have been working on the delivery of Jimmy’s 2019 for the last five months.

Those that ran may well also have helped in the run up or clear up or supplied a stand in and it is this team effort that is most significant in the aftermath.

For a lot of the club, their running season only really begins after Jimmy’s 10 is complete and several members ran as pacers, so their time was not of personal significance.

Aaron stars

That aside, it is worthy of mention that Aaron McGrady travelled back from his residence in London to take a deserved third place, outpacing last year’s runner up, Neil Weir.

Not only that, but a certain Hannah Somani a member of Victoria Park and Tower Hamlets AC, who travelled with him, recorded a PB 39.43 to finish seventh female overall, just one week after completing her first half marathon in under 90 minutes in London.

Aaron’s performance was equalled on the female front by Catherine O’Connor who took third spot on the podium in a high quality

ladies’ race which was won in flying style by Newcastle’s Kerry O’ Flaherty (34.33) — her second win in Jimmy’s Ten.

People ran and walked for PBs, for charity, for fun and simply to be part of the spectacle. From the comments made post race we managed to supply something for everyone

Mark makes his mark

At the business end, the front line of the race soon split into intense battles with Mark McKinstry running true to form by taking an early lead and gradually stretching to the point that Paddy

Hamilton could not hope to reel him back in.

Mark finished in 31.11, Paddy in 31.56 and Aaron in 32.30. It has to be said that Aaron’s time exhibited not only a tremendous improvement of well over one minute on last year’s time, 33.42, but also that he had battled all the way to this podium having been back in fifth place at half way.

He stayed with Neil Weir when the pair of them caught long-time third-placed Patrick McNiff until the final straight when his sprinting power left the Willowfield man in his slipstream. Next year??

Copying Mark McKinsty’s front running tactics, in a field of great talent and depth, Kerry O’Flaherty took a leaf out his book from the outset and was cruising comfortably long before half way and took the victory in 34.35.

Laura Graham, still on the rise after injury and lay-off, found the last half a challenge, but still laid down a commendable

time of 35.33. East Down’s Catherine O’Connor, winner in 2018, took the remaining podium spot in style in 36.58.

Relay results

Lagan Valley’s Fergus McGrady and Conor Doran took the male prize in the relay and were the quickest team overall in 36.55. Five seconds behind were Neil Curran EDAC and Joanne Mills, fromNewcastle AC, who then were awarded the mixed relay prize.

The quickest all-female team title went to Kirsti and Lucy Foster Foster who were home in 38.19 and the fourth the fastest team overall.

Marrakesh Express

A big Downpatrick welcome was accorded to Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny Running Club, who those of us who have been a fair while in the game will remember from days gone by as the man dubbed the Marrakesh Express after

he won the marathon in Morocco in 1997.

The former Irish Olympian has long been promising to come and run Jimmy’s Ten, but not only did he win the over 55 prize on Sunday, but also set a new Irish over 55 record of 34.45 a day after breaking the half marathon record at Washingbay where he ran 73.40.

So, there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet. Many Congratulations Tommy and long may you continue to keep the records tumbling.

Neil’s walkers

With a tremendous turnout of 103 walkers, Neil Obank’s Fitness and Conditioning members turned out at 8.30am and walked the entire route raising £6,000 for Dramability. Well done to every one of them.

A huge album of photos is available courtesy of Keith McClure at https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastdownac/albums and a race video has been produced by club member Neil McCartan and has been posted on the EDAC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jimmy10k/

Thanks to all

Thank you to all our sponsors and to our helpers and a special word of thanks to the competitors who came in their droves and have been effusive in praise of the race, the club and not forgetting the best post race food in the land!

Other events

Phillip Vint warmed up for his pace making duties on Sunday by running the full marathon distance in horrendous conditions, with rain, headwinds and flooded roads, during the East Antrim six-hour challenge on Saturday.

The idea is to run as far as you can round the same 4,25 mile circuit in six hours. So, he called it quits after completing the marathon distance in 3 hours 22 minutes, describing conditions as the toughest, most unpleasant they had ever run in while Helen completed 17 miles in 3.02.

Meanwhile, Gareth Amos and Dermot Cahill were the only two who escaped from the district to complete the Craic 10k in Belfast on Sunday morning, starting one hour before Jimmy’s.

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