East Down AC Weekly Report on the Jimmy’s 10K 26th anniversary
Over 700 athletes from across Ireland descended on Downpatrick on Sunday morning to kick off the St Patrick’s Day festivities with the 26th running of Jimmy’s 10.
Jimmy’s 10K is the first big 10k of the road racing year and always attracts a big crowd. With the new flat two looped course this event draws top club runners, charity runners and local first timers.
Check Down News for Jimmy’s 10 photos.
With last year’s winner Patrick Sheridan not racing, there would be another athlete on the 1st placed podium for the men.
In the ladies race EDACs Catherine O’Connor will be in the lead pack and was a popular local favorite along with club team mate Caroline McNabb. With cold damp conditions with the odd heavy shower, the race was set.
The saying at East Down AC is if you’re not running, you’re helping, so all club members were somewhere around the route or at the finish line. EDAC had 11 athletes on the start line.
From the gun Newcastle’s ACs Niall Goodman headed to the front and pushed the field hard, finishing well ahead of the field in 33min 08 sec.
In the ladies race EDACs Caroline McNabb had a battle with Joanne Mills, but managed to pull away in the home straight breaking the tape in 37 min 57 sec.
The first East Down AC athlete to cross the line was young Thomas Magee, who took the U20 title with a strong run in 37 min 46 sec.
The second EDAC female to finish was Catherine O Connor, who ran a determined race after a lay off, finishing 4th in the ladies race in 39 min 04. Next
to cross the line was Martin Willcox, another athlete who has been off the road through injury, will be very happy with his 39 min 38 sec thanks to the spot on pacing by Matt Bezzant and Adam Withers.
Check Down News for Jimmy’s 10 photos.
Not too far behind Martin was Matthew Taylor who worked hard to finish in a strong time of 40 min 06 sec. Adam Morgan was next in, after his great run at Queens 5k, Adam put in a solid performance clocking 41 min 45 sec.
Kieran Keown was the next male across the finish line, not only did he run a great race in 46 min 56 sec, he filmed it as well, some going. EDACs Lisa Laird was not too far behind Kieran and will be happy with her run crossing the line in 47 min 35 sec.
ld hand at Jimmy’s 10 is Janine Murray who has run and helped out many times and had a great run in 51 min 57 sec. Bringing East Down AC home was Cliodhna Kelly, who enjoyed the race finishing in 1 hr 06 min.
The relay race this year had 36 teams entered, with Carter and Seb coming first in 35 min dead.
A great well done to all The Jimmys 10 committee and all the marshalls, pacers and helpers who make this a great running event for everyone, and for braving the very changeable weather conditions.
And a big thank you to Finnerbrogue and all the local sponsors (Wrap n Roll, Plus2Print), who support East Down AC year after year.
Check Down News for Jimmy’s 10 photos.
If your photos aren’t there, just message me, and I’ll add them to the folder. Check the East Down AC socials.
