NI and ULSTER AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Back Row, Simon McGrattan, Coach, Owen Edwards, Elisha Surginor, Laura Gardiner, Kim Surginor, Coach and Joe Quinnwith front row – Matthew McGrattan, Daniel Atkinson and Aoife Cochrane at the Mary Peters Track on Sunday morning. Missing from photo are Ellen Erskine and Chris O’Connor.[/caption]
LAURA TAKES SILVER
Laura Gardiner capped her recent good run of form with a Silver Medal winning performance on Sunday in the NI and Ulster Age Group Championships at MPT, holding off a spirited late challenge from the City of Lisburn athlete to finish the 1500 metres Under-16 Girls in 5.01 writes Joe Quinn.  Laura held second place from the off, with only a momentary slip into third before coming strongly in an excellently paced race. Other excellent performances came from Ellen Erskine, who in spite of an exam laden run up, finished a creditable ninth with the smooth running ever improving Elisha Surginor just two places further back.
Earlier Aoife Cochrane posted a new pb of 5.48 in the fast run, highly competitive Under-14 Girls 1500Â metres and can take considerable pride in and encouragement from that.
HOW THE BOYS FARED
The Boys meanwhile were involved in the Under-14 Age category with a quartet comprising Daniel Atkinson, Matthew McGrattan, Christopher O’Connor and Owen Edwards finishing 10th 11th, 13th and 14th respectively in what developed into a race within a race but all trying out their own tactics in bids to outdo each other. Owen perhaps a mite over eager at the start and Matthew a little over cautious. But it’s a learning experience and everyone did their best and gave of their all on the day to make parents and coaches justifiably proud of their efforts.
NEIL LEADS THE WAY IN SENIORS
In the absence of Brendan Teer through illness Neil McCartan was the only East Down athlete to contest the Senior Championships on Saturday, giving an excellent account of himself in the 800 metres, qualifying fifth fastest in 2.01.57 and improving that time to 2.00.12 to take fifth in the final also.
And just picked up on a couple of results which crept under the radar last week with Crossgar girl Anne Sandford taking an excellent second place in the Mourne Way Half Marathon and our own Mags Flynn crashing through the two hour barrier in the Larne Half, recording 1.58.44.
COMING LOCCAL EVENTS ANDÂ ONLINE ENTRY
Online entry is now open for the Loughinisland 5 Mile race on 26 June at:
 http://www.niathletics.org/
and it marks the beginning of a busy Summer’s local racing with meetings in Ballykinlar on 7 July: Â enter online now at:Â http://www.niathletics.org/
Ballykinlar is a mostly on the beach run over 10K. And the  Kilmore one is 5 Miles on 10 July: enter online now at http://www.niathletics.org/
RGU Downpatrick 10K is on 24 July, with Darragh Cross 10K on 15 August, and Killough Shore 10K on 17 August. Enter online now at  http://www.niathletics.org/
and last but not least, the Killyleagh 5 Miles run is on 30 August.
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