Tollymore superb venue for all kinds of distance racing

15 November 2017

IS it really that time of year again when the ever increasing band of the tough as teak runners descend on Tollymore Forest Park to undertake the 40-mile slog that is the 26 Extreme Trail Ultra Marathon, which kicks off at 8am in the morning?

The less ambitious have an extra two hours to consider whether to begin the shorter marathon distance, not to mention those who can change their minds several times before setting off on the virtual sprint that is the half marathon distance.

It was interesting to note that top female runner Gladys Ganiel ran the half marathon on Saturday and stamped her class all over it, not only posting a superb time of 1.25.04 but finishing the race ahead of everyone else to claim the outright winner’s prize. This is a very rare occurrence in any level of running, so well done to the former two-time winner of Jimmy’s Ten.

Last year Stephen Heasley completed the marathon in four hours 20 minutes, but added another lap (13.1 miles) this year and finished it in six hours 56 minutes, overall 21st place and first in the Over 50 category.

Marathon

The marathon distance attracted a lot more East Down runners with Declan Teague the first of them to cross the finish line in 3.37, which gave him eighth place overall.

He was followed by Phillip Vint and Gareth Kelly (21st and 22nd), who were both credited with the same time of 4.00.46. Stephen McCartan was the next to finish, having wisely ped off his two clubmates’ pace around halfway, and he finished strongly in 4.17.46 for 31st place.

Liz O’Hagan (4.22) claimed 34th position and third female overall, having taken the notable scalp of Fiona Prue (4.25), who was just ahead of Downpatrick’s Joelene Scott (4.26).

Half

The half marathon attracted the biggest field of the day and Gavin Oakes, who was 12th in 1.34.01, just edged out Joanne Foster (14th in 1.35.15) to be the best of the EDAC raiders. Helen Vint did well to take 43rd place in 1.43 and Gavin McConvey (256th) was a noticeable finisher in 2.15.57 in a field of 337.

Linda forsook the ultra event this year in favour of the marathon, though she opted for the EAMS-promoted wedding marathon on Friday in Carrickfergus. and crossed the line in 5.19 in the company of her sister, Jackie Moore. Another great effort after finishing the Dublin marathon less than two weeks ago.

No excuse

Oonagh Brétéché and Michael Cultra were the only other East Down representatives in the ultra race and while simply enjoying the superb scenery they reduced their time by seven minutes to 8.02 hours and will have to do a sub eight hours next year to maintain their reputations.

Oonagh used the fact that she was tired after a long day out as her excuse for being slightly late for the club’s 30th anniversary dinner later on Saturday. You’ll really have to come with something better than that Oonagh, I saw you dancing the night away.

Though having said that, Michael didn’t make it to the Burrendale at all.

Incredibly, five years have passed since the club celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding and so it was deemed appropriate to celebrate another significant milestone in the history of the club.

Following a year’s planning almost 80 members and their guests arrived in their finery at the Burrendale Hotel on Saturday evening — and what a night it turned out to be.

The evening included an excellent meal, a few short speeches and the awarding of various trophies to members and a disco, but the most important aspect of the event was the camaraderie among the members and the obvious joy experienced by everyone present.

Without doubt it was the most enjoyable East Down AC social event I have been to in all my time with the Club and it was good to hear that everyone there was in favour of holding at least one similar outing every year with a more formal

affair, like Saturday’s, every five years.

The debate arose as to whether the weekly circuit sessions are preparation for events such as these, or vice versa, but the feeling is that a tremendous boost to members performances will result from the get together. The pity is that more didn’t manage to be there, which is their loss, but there’ll be another one along next year.

NI & Ulster

An eager contingent of EDAC Juniors travelled to Stranorlar early on Sunday morning to take part in the NI & Ulster Uneven Championships.

Kieran Trainor ran in the U-11 boys and survived the tough conditions in good spirits. In the U-11 Girls Jodi Foster pulled out all the stops to place seventh. Erin Moore also ran in the same category with a gutsy determination.

U-13 girls

The U-13 girls’ team was out to build on the experience they had gained last year as U-12s. They did this — and more.

Lauren Madine was first home with a confident run. Anna Gardiner was 10th, Kirsti Foster 11th and Lucy Foster 12th, meaning that these girls all qualified as individuals for the All -Irelands in Waterford next month.

With Kara Trainor and Emily Burns following in that order the team secured the gold medals as first club team.

This is an impressive achievement and bodes well for the rest of the season and the longer term future of the club.

Tough going

James Smyth had a hard day at the office in the U-19 boys. As the distance increases the number of entrants decreases as few are prepared to put themselves on the line.

This means that those who do turn up rightly consider themselves the best in the province. Well done to James for his sterling

efforts.

This weekend

The self-styled Co. Down 5K Championship series of races in Downpatrick, begins at 9am on Sunday with a children’s race and culminates with the elite men’s and women’s race at 12 noon, all over a 5K route around the Grove area by St Patrick’s Square.

With top class athletes like Mark McKinstry from North Belfast, Ben Branagh (St Malachy’s AC), winner of this year’s Jimmy’s Ten, and Dromore’s Susan Smyth already entered, the elite event will be well worth watching.

That’s always providing that slower guys like me have completed our five laps in the 30 minutes-plus category beginning at 10am, before the fast folk hit the road. Online entry is open at www.athleticsni.org but entries will also be taken on the day.

Homestart Santa

On Sunday, November, the Home Start 2, 5 and 10K Santa walk and runs take place, beginning at 11.30am from the East Down clubrooms.

So if you haven’t got an entry for the Joe Seeley 10K the day before, or even if you have, get your Santa hat or costume and your entries in for this one online at www.athleticsni.org, though entries will also be taken on the day from 9am onwards.

Refreshments and spot prizes afterwards.

Son of the Gridle

As the popular Griddle 10K will not be taking place this year, East Down are hosting a charity fund-raising 10K with 2 x 5K relay for two of its junior members, Owen Edwards and Laura Green.

Owen is heading for India next summer as part of the Camps International project aimed at teaching English to school children on the sub- continent.

He spent several weeks in Cambodia last year on a building project and is looking forward to the very different challenge next year.

Laura will travel to Ethiopia with a project team from the Habitat for Humanity charity and will be involved with building a hospital.

So please come along and support this event, on Sunday, December 3, to enable these excellent young people to gain valuable experience of working and living abroad. Online entry arrangements are presently being set up and there will be one or two surprise categories introduced in this event.

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