Athletics
East Down Athletic Club Notes
Posted by Joe Quinn On January - 19 - 2011
MICHAEL McKeown was the sole senior East Down representative in the City of Lisburn promoted Cross Country event in Moira Demesne on Saturday, coming in 41st in the 54 runner race won by North Belfast's Conor Magill while Anne Sandford continued her very successful season on the grass by taking the Ladies Over 45 prize.
Read more: East Down Athletic Club Notes
East Down Athletics Club
A lot happening but not a lot happening? Maybe that's the feeling you get when you're not competing or not attending races, as happened at the weekend, courtesy of my reluctant left leg and recently acquired chest infection, writes Joe Quinn.
On Saturday Elaine Burch continued her recent good form with 7th place and a medal in the All Ireland Girls Under 19 Cross Country Championships at the Curragh, a good springboard from which to launch future success with Lagan Valley AC and I have every confidence she will make her mark on a bigger stage in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for the quartet of Jackie Gilbride, Philip Vint, Gavin Oakes and Mark McDowell as the icy underfoot conditions led to the cancellation of the Saturday morning 5K in Victoria Park, though having made the journey they ran for almost eight miles around the streets before they decided it was too slippery and coffee and scones were a better option.
Jackie was the wisest of the lot, skipping the runaround in favour of the refreshments, a trick she picked up in New York. Who says runners only think about running? In the afternoon Aoife Cochrane was a lone Junior at the Dromore Cross Country races and gave the usual good account of herself over what is regarded as the toughest off-road course. Ryan Hagen flew the flag for the Seniors, taking 5th place in the Open race.
Sunday morning saw one group head for Tollymore Park for a leisurely 90 minutes in the most serene of settings, while some others were being introduced to the delights of the Chrstmas Cracker route around Castlewellan Park by our good friends from the Newcastle club.
Needless to say, all of the above were followed by visits to coffee shops, restaurants and other dens of iniquity, intent on undoing all the good work of the previous few hours.
The more disciplined members, Michael Cultra, Declan Teague and James Magennis, took part in the first Trail race in Castleward on Sunday afternoon, over four laps of a 2.2 mile circuit, finishing in 62, 63 and 70 minutes respectively, good indications they're in fighting form for the aforementioned Cracker on 27 December and for which I'm currently looking for a one legged (must be left leg) partner to whom I can strap the rest of my body. No suggestions to visit knacker's yards, morgue or cemetery will be entertained
Ballyclare Cross Country Park Run
Posted by Joe Quinn On December - 9 - 2011
HAVING survived the night life in Castlewellan Park on Thursday last, several of the more adventurous runners in East Down took on the challenge of the Park Run in Victoria Park on Saturday morning, having heard that it was free of charge and could also be used as an excuse for not running in the Malcolm Cup Cross Country League fixture in Ballyclare in the afternoon.
In the event Mark McDowell, Philip Vint and Declan Teague finished in 4th 5th and 6th places respectively timed at 19.03, 19.04 and 19.10 though it has perhaps escaped their notice that their instructions were to target places 1, 2 and 3. Better luck next time! Gavin Oakes and Jackie Glbride also took part in the 5K event but I have no detailed results to advise of their performances.
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East Down Athletic Club Notes
Saul GAC 10K Race And Fun Run
Posted by Jim Masson On November - 30 - 2011
A perfect day for running and an even better one for spectating welcomed around 150 runners and their supporters to Saul on Sunday for the 3rd running of the increasingly popular Round the Griddle 10K and 5K Fun Run. Indeed never has the breathtaking beauty of the countryside under the benign gaze of St Patrick been shown to better effect. It was a reminder that we are incredibly lucky to live in such splendid surroundings and indeed further evidence that the former slave boy was probably a runner.
The air was calm though nippy and the sun sparkling as Council Chairman Dermot Curran set the Fun Runners on their way on the stroke of 12 noon, to be followed 10 minutes later by over 100 more experienced athletes covering all ages and a wide range of abilities.
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The Dundrum GR8 Race Results
Posted by Jim Masson On October - 24 - 2011
Dundrum 8 Mile – 22nd October 2011 -Results
Place Bib Forename Surname Sex Cat Club Gun Time Chip Time
1 590 Brendan Teer MO East Down AC 0:47:43 0:47:43
2 434 M M45 Newcastle & District AC 0:49:46 0:49:46
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Athletic NI Announces New Cross Country League
Posted by Joe Quinn On October - 23 - 2011
CROSS country running in Northern Ireland is set to get a boost with the establishment of a new cross country league, supported by Athletics Northern Ireland (ANI).
The league has been established after an open consultation process with the athletics community and will incorporate the following races:
The Bobby Rea Cross Country, Belfast (5 November 2011)
The McConnell Shield, Ballyclare (12 November 2011)
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Newcastle AC Notes and Junior Race Report
Posted by Jim Masson On October - 19 - 2011
Newcastle AC Notes by Joe McCann
Anne gets an international call
Before readers jump to any conclusions from the misleading headline, Newcastle AC are not providing the replacement to Nigel Worthington, though Marty McVeigh has yet to join Martin O’Neill and officially rule himself out! Anne Sandford competed in the first Cross Country race of the season at the Dub Read the rest of this entry »
East Down AC Notes
Posted by Jim Masson On October - 18 - 2011
POOR TURNOUT LOWERS EAST DOWN’S HOPES
Saturday morning saw the boys and girls from Newcastle and East Down gather in the field below the Monument in Tollymore Park for Round 2 of the McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series. A total of 84 athletes turned out but given that the split was 61 – 23 in Newcastle’s favour it is not hard to see why the home club dominated proceedings.
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EDAC Notes: Victoria Park Relay Championships
Posted by Joe Quinn On October - 10 - 2011
SATURDAY saw the welcome return of competitive high quality Relay running to the sporting calendar after an absence of several years.
Fledgling club Orangegrove AC organised the event in the idyllic surroundings of Belfast’s Victoria Park and were rewarded with ideal running conditions. East Down had 2 Male teams, in the Open and Masters categories and acquitted themselves admirably in both races which were won by the dominant by Annadale Striders.
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Newcastle AC Notes: Quail Wins Good Egg Award
Posted by Joe McCann On October - 3 - 2011
Quail wins the ‘good egg’ award at the Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships
Newcastle AC Notes by Joe McCann
Several Northern Ireland athletes, including some from Newcastle were in action in a festival of running that took place in North Wales from 23rd-25th September. James McMullan of England was the winner of the Open Mountain race in a speedy 50:03. Our man, Brendan Quail ran a very respectable 66:43 amid illustrious rivals and earned the plaudits of the crowds by making sure that the other athletes had crossed the line before he did so himself. Such gentlemanly conduct is rarely witnessed in fell running events these days. Anne Sandford finished 3rd Northern Ireland lady behind Diane Wilson and Shileen O’Kane and 28th overall. Well done to both athletes on representing the province with considerable style.
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