Teenager Anna has world at her feet following weekend victories

15 March 2023

EAST Down AC’s Anna Gardiner took the weekend by the scruff of the neck when she signed up to an arduous itinerary.

The 16 year-old had gained a slot in the All-Ireland Schools when she strode to gold at the Ulster Schools last month in Mallusk, but she had also entered Jimmy’s Ten and was keen to take part.

The All-Ireland’s took place on Saturday with her club’s hosted event the following day.

The races also varied significantly, as one was cross country and the other was a road race.

The two events were 200 miles apart but Anna is as determined as she is modest so she took the decision to try to do both.

Representing her school, Assumption Grammar, Ballynahinch, she set off to Waterford for the first challenge.

Heavy rain had left the course in gutters but the sun made an appearance for the race itself. She was primed for action and made her intentions clear on the first lap when she stuck like glue to the other pre-race favourites.

They ran in a tight group of three for over half the race until Anna made a break. She avoided a near mishap when she slipped on a corner but she managed to scramble back her balance.

There was then a period of cat and mouse where her lead fluctuated from 30 metres to 20 metres and even down to ten, as they negotiated some torturous hills.

With 3k done and 500 to go, she started to feel confident and kept her eyes on the line. She crested the tape a clear and worthy winner and is now the proud owner of a prestigious All-Ireland Schools’ gold medal.

For most, that would have been more than enough but Anna spent the return 200 mile leg considering whether she was going to be ready to go again the next morning.

Anna turned up on race day to be presented with number 13, but she is clearly not superstitious as she seemed totally relaxed and jogged her way to the start line of Jimmy’s 10K.

The gun went and she tucked in with a little posse of club-mates and four of them ran together for the first six kilometres.

It had been suggested to Anna that as this was only her second 10K and less than 24 hours from a tough cross country, that this should be a relaxed run just to enjoy being part of a mass start race.

However, she was having none of it. Anna gritted her teeth and edged in front of EDAC’s other contender, Caroline MacNabb, just enough to get an edge around the seven kilometre marker. When Anna hit Market Street she looked strong but it is a long way to go for a sprint finish so she had to be careful.

In the end, Anna hit the finish tape with a 14 second margin to cap off a weekend to remember.

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