The Bobby Rea Memorial Cross Country race on Satyrday was the 2nd round of this year’s Cross Country League and attracted almost 130 athletes as interest in cross country running grows writes Joe Quinn.
Held this year in the UUJ Campus the course was firm, flat and bathed in warm Autumn sunshine. East Down, seeking to build on a good start in Comber 2 weeks ago fielded a 7-man team consisting of Martin Willcox, James Savage, Paul Burns, Dee Murray, Mark McDowell, Micharel Cultra and Ciaran Denvir making an impressive and in his own words “very enjoyable” debut. Perhaps Michael’s fairly relaxed run had something to do with his pre-occupation with his participation in the Dublin Marathon on Monday but everyone ran well in a high quality, competitive field.
UNDER 16 GIRLS TAKE 4th TEAM PLACE
Earlier the Club was well represented in the NI and Ulster Even Age Group Championships and were set on their way by an impressive run from Edie Carroll in the Under-14 Girls race, placing 48th in a huge field.
The Under-16 Girls team took their example from her and were led home Aoife Cochrane who took last year’s vow to heart with a superb 20th place. She really is developing into an astute race tactician and worked her way through the field, picking up 6 places in her final lap. Another to impress with her “run your own race” mentality was Elisha Surginor 28th a really exciting prospect with Laura Green 32nd perhaps feeling the effects of her Thursday night fall and backed up by Ella Carroll 46th to bring the team an overall 4th placing. Well Done.
There was a trio of East Down runners in the Boys Under 16 race led by Owen Edwards 33rd, with recent recruit James Smyth in 44th and Matthew McGrattan 68th.
LAURA QUALIFIES FOR FINALS AGAIN
Laura Gardiner was expected to do well in the Under-18 Girls race and explained her after race appearance of having something in hand by admitting to miscalculating the number of laps to do. Nevertheless she finished strongly in 8th place to book her place in next month’s All Ireland Finals.
NEXT WEEK
Round 3 of the League follows quickly with a trip to Coleraine and another set of learning, the University of Ulster campus, for the Springwell AC hosted event. Will we ever learn though?
GRIDDLE 10K
Sunday 16 November will see local interest will focus on Raholp where the Round the Griddle 10K and Fun Run gets under way at 12 noon from Saul GAC premises. Billed as the toughest in Co. Down, it’s not really – the toughest in Northern Ireland perhaps!
Not one to miss!!
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