McCONNELL SHIELD AT BALLYCLARE
A beautiful sunny Saturday morning in November last year was replaced this time by continuous rainfall for the 80th running of the McConnell Shield cross country race, the 4th fixture in the League competition writes Joe Quinn.
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Alison Carroll, Joe Quinn and Janine Murray with Janine’s daughter representing the next generation at Ballyclare on Saturday.[/caption]
Despite the weather record numbers turned out and it could truly be said that the League has come to life with high quality runners in both races and competitive battles in every part of the field. Points are awarded based on the team’s 4 best placed runners but with bonus points on offer for up to 12 finishers, even the lowliest can make a difference. East Down fielded a strong squad, turning out 12 runners for the first time this season as did Newcastle AC who lead the League and are running out of their skins at the moment.
ELITE MEN The men’s race quickly developed into an 2 separate races with a group of four at the front then a slight gap to the next group although by lap 2 of the 5 it had changed into a 3 way contest as the second group became detached from the leading 4 and the remainder of the field fought to close the gap on them. Pre-race favourite Ryan McDermott was in command of the lead group comprising St Malachy’s Joe McAlister, Willowfield’s rising star Andrew Wright and East Down’s Benny Teer as well as the Annadale man.
It was thought that McAlister would up the ante after 2 laps as he had done at UUJ 2 weeks ago but this proved imposssible due to the relentless pace injected and maintained by McDermottt from lap 3 onwards. With athletes of the calibre of Scott Rankin, Alan O’Hara and Alan Bogle flat out yet trailing in the wake of this foursome spectators knew they were witnessing high quality running.
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East Down Juniors at the Age Group Championships in Cavan.[/caption]
They eventually succumbed to the pressure as McDermott who opened a lead at the front but it was Teer who responded best and found another gear to kick again in the final quarter mile to comprehensively beat his nemesis McAlister into 3rd place.
A magnificent race and a very satisfying day for the East Down man. He was ably backed up by Michael Cultra, Francis Tumelty and Barrie Atkinson in the scoring places and the bonus earners were Martin Wilcox, captain Paul Burns, Caolan Atkinson, making a fine job of his first outing with the senior squad, the strong finishing Liam Keenan, Dee Murray who turned out again in the Charity 10K on Sunday at Dolly’s Brae, Mark O’Connor, Ciaran Denvir and Mark McDowell
LADIES JUST ONE SHORT So how could the Ladies not follow suit. Catherine O’Connor maintained her recent excellent form with a spirited 5th place in the race won by Olympic triathlete Aileen Reid ahead of North Belfast’s Cathy McCourt and North Down’s Jessica Craig. Alison Carroll forsook her camera to look at events from the other side of the lens and impressed with a 24.03 clocking followed less than a minute later by Janine Murray, which is encouraging for the future when East Down actually start fielding teams of 4 to score some League points.
NEWCASTLE STAY TOP IN HAIR RAISING CONTEST Meanwhile Newcastle’s Seamus Lynch was picking off his rivals to lead the Newcastle team home and with David O Flaherty and Paul Carlin in 13th and 14th places it was left to David McNeilly with a rousing finish to grab 16th and a clinch victory which maintained their lead at the top of the League. This could well be their year as they are running superbly in depth and have so far repelled all challenges.
So what is the secret of their upsurge in form. Could it be connected with the growth of hirsute appendages in the ranks? I would have thought that clean shaven faces would have afforded better streamlining but it seems that the longer the beard the faster the legs. What will happen at the end of Movember only time will tell.
EDIE and MACKENZIE STAR IN UNDER 14 RACE Earlier Edie Carroll set the standard for the day when winning the Under 14Girls race and with Mackenzie Murray running with boys 3 years his senior claiming 4th place overall the feel good factor was well and truly introduced. Mary Jo Tumelty added to this with a spirited run in the same race and Daniel Atkinson and Martin Burke placing 4th and 6th respectively in the Under 16 Boys 2 miles race added to the momentum.JUNIORS DO WELL IN CAVAN The Juniors travelled to a wet, windy and muddy Cavan venue for the NI and Ulster Uneven Age Group championships and competed well in spite of atrocious conditions. Owen Edwards battled strongly in the Under 15 race and took some notable scalps in finishing 25th, with Matthew McGrattan in 60th just over 1 minute behind. In the Girls race Aoife Cochrane also placed 25th with Laura Green running her best for some time to fill 28th place.
Laura Gardiner had a gallant run in the Under 17 age group, finishing in 6th place overall and leading the Down team, including Newcastle’s Doyle sisters, to victory. James Smyth, in the same age category, continued his excellent first year with the Club and finished in 63rd place. A splendid effort all round given the distance travelled and the weather conditions.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK A little further afield Gavin Oakes had a superb run in the New York Marathon last weekend recording 3.44 as he enjoyed the sights of the Big Apple after his abortive attempt 2 years ago when the race was cancelled due to the hurricane.
NEXT WEEK It’s Griddle time again on Sunday and a big turnout is expected in the increasingly popular 10K run through the historic region and with a less demanding 5k on offer there is something for everyone. The race begins at 12 noon and entries will be taken on the day in Saul GAC Clubrooms from 10.00am onwards.
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