O’Connor is lady winner

O’Connor is lady winner

19 March 2025

OVER 800 athletes from across Ireland descended on Downpatrick on Sunday morning to kick off the St Patrick’s Day festivities with the 25th running of Jimmy’s Ten.

Jimmy’s is the first big 10k of the road racing year and always attracts a big crowd. With the two looped course this event draws top club runners, charity runners and local first timers.

The saying at East Down AC is if you’re not running your helping, so all club members were somewhere around the route or at the finish line.

EDAC had 21 athletes on the start line. From the gun Adam Withers went and joined the lead pack. He was looking for a good time and got just that with a PB OF 34 min 54 sec.

First lady home was the race favourite Catherine O’Connor, who was not challenged en route and crossed the line in 36 min 30 sec.

Daniel Giles has had a strong start to the year and got  another PB breaking the tape in 38 min 09 sec. Right behind Daniel was Martin Willcox, who has not run Jimmy’s for eight years and wanted a go at the new course, finishing in 38 min 10 sec.

Gareth Fegan, who has just returned to East Down, will be happy with his first run out for the club coming in 39 min 27 sec. On pacing duties this year and a last-minute stand in was Joe Napier, who got the 40-minute pace spot on in 39 min 58 sec.

Adam Morgan set off like a man on a mission and finished in a great time of 41 min 41 sec.

The second EDAC lady over the line was Deirdre Weatherall with a strong run in 42 min 20 sec.

The next PB in was young Matthew Taylor, who put in a determined run to finish in 42 min 35 sec.

Next pacer in was Barrie Atkinson at 45 min pace, and brought the runners in at 44 min 48 sec. Taylor senior (John) had a steady run in 44 min 50 sec.

Kieran Keown was the next EDAC vest over the line in 45 min 04 sec with Sharon Madine the third East Down lady home in 45 min 13 sec.

Cheryl Denvir was next in. An old hand at Jimmy’s 10, she will be happy with her efforts, coming in 46 min 39 sec.

Fifty-pacer pacer Colin Shields had a well-timed run, guiding the racers home 49 min 45 sec. The next Keown home was Lesley and she had a great run finishing in 53 min 35 sec.

Just behind Lesley was Clare Forester. She admitted it was not her best day at the races, but loves the atmosphere of Jimmy’s and finished in 53 min 45 sec.

Gavin Hynds loves a bit of pacing. He picked the 55-min pacer vest this year and did a great job in 54 min 59 sec.

Joanne Carson has done many a Jimmy’s 10 and crossed the line with her friends in 55 min 06 sec. Declan Hampton and Nuala Taylor volunteered for the 60-min pacer and filled the role perfectly, getting runners under the hour in 59 min 50 sec.

In the relay Cara Napier and Sarah Gilchrist represented the East Down juniors. They had a great race, coming home third overall, first ladies’ team and Cara Napier getting a PB for her 5k leg. 

Well done all. A big shout out goes to Alison Carroll, Paul Burns and Tom McClean for organising another great Jimmy’s Ten and a big thank you to all the marshals and volunteers who helped make it a great day.