East Down AC runners take on the Portaferry 10 mile run
Report by Martin Wilcox and Marguerite Robinson.
The Portaferry 10 Miler.
Last Tuesday evening saw local athletes head to the Ards Peninsula for the Portaferry 10 miler, part of the local summer Gala.
At the start of the day you would not have thought it was summer, as the rain came down.
As the East Down runners made their way across on the Strangford ferry the rain started to ease and as half seven approached it stopped with mild conditions.
With 29 relay pairs and 177 10 milers on the start line with Mags Mathieson sounding the klaxon, the runners were off.
The route covers the coastal roads and country lanes of the local area, and there are some good flat sections of the course.
However, there is also a number of hills of different ascents and distances that can take the edge of a runner’s pace.
From the klaxon, Adam Withers who was drafted in at the last moment to partner Jacob Crawford as EDACs only relay team hit the front and handed over a strong lead to Jacob at the halfway point.
I would say the second half of the 10 mile course is more undulating than the first and Jacob added to Adams strong first leg. The guys came in first in the relay team race in a time of 58 min 16 sec.
First EDAC runner to cross the line in the main race was Neil Curran who ran a very strong race and was happy with his time of 58 min 47 sec on a tricky course.
Alice and Paul Brear Clarkson were the next red and yellow vests across the line, they ran a well paced race as they passed me at the 8 mile point and continued to pull away from me from then on.
Crossing the line in 1 hr 03 min 56 sec, Alice coming in first female and a PB for both of them, great running.
Not too far behind them was Martin Willcox and Dee Murray, from the off Dee hung onto my shoulder for the whole 10 miles, as we pushed each other along the route.
I thank him for that, and we were happy to cross the line together in 1 hr 04 min 30 sec.
Declan Teague is normally known for his marathon running but took on the shorter distance and supported this great local race, and ran a determined 1 hr 13 min 21 sec.
He was in 80th position, not to far behind him was Seamus Savage who is trying his hand at all distances on the road and came in with a new PB 1 hr 13 min 48 sec.
Second lady home was EDACs women’s team captain Sharon Madine who ran this race last year which was a lot hotter day.
Sharon used the cooler conditions to set a new PB for the distance 1 hr 17 min, another great run.
And well done to Mags Mathieson, Micheal Kelly and their team for a great event, with great support around the course.
Born 2 Run Saltrock Sea to Sky
Friday Evening saw the popular Sea to Sky 10k, 5k and walk, organized by Born 2 Run running events.
The race boasts a scenic route starting on the promenade in Newcastle and includes a mix of road and track before heading up through the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, then back down to finish on the seafront.
The rain held off as four EDAC runners toed the line for the 10k race.
Dee Murray after completing the Portaferry 10 mile a couple of days before took to the challenge.
He was the first red and yellow vest home in 24th position in a time of 41 min 51 sec, great effort after a busy week.
He wasn’t too far behind was Daniel Giles who tried to stick with Dee coming in only 3 seconds behind him in 26th spot.
Paul and Alice Brear Clarkson again after a great run on Tuesday night in Portaferry were again working as a great team.
Paul came in 41st position and Alice 43rd, with Paul timing 44 min dead and Alice a couple of seconds behind. Some strong running over a difficult course.
All Ireland Juvenile Championships
Saturday saw the All Ireland Juvenile age groups track and field Athletics Championships held at Tullamore Co Offaly, hosted by Tullamore Harriers and Athletics Ireland and ANI.
Ollie Robinson who has been in great form of late on the track carried on this form with two PBs in one day.
He started in the second 400m heat, running in the outside lane. Ollie thought this lane draw may be a disadvantage but after the heat he said he enjoyed that lane since he could run his own race.
He produced the first of his PBs winning in a time of 51.38. The final was only 90 minutes later.
In this Ollie ran in lane 5 beside race favourite Sean Doggett of Atherny who was in lane 4. It is always hard for spectators to judge in a staggered start how the race is going until the last 200m.
Ollie was overtaken by Sean around 200m into the race, on the home straight Ollie looked to be in 5th position.
He did not give up and carried on pushing and upped his pace to cross the finish line in 3rd and improving his PB time to 51.24 coming away with a Bronze.
He finished his athletics season on a high. Sean Doggett won the race in an amazing 49.25.
Another EDAC athlete in great form is Anna Gardiner who is preparing for the Junior Commonwealth Games at the end of the month.
She was in action on Saturday in the 3000m U18 coming away with a gold medal in her favourite event.
On Sunday Anna returned to Tullamore to compete in her less favoured 1500m U18 and came in Bronze position.
This was a great weekends running and preparation for Anna, and good luck to Anna in Trinidad and Tabago. East Down AC are all behind you!
