Totten Adds Ulster Bronze To His Medal Collection

Newcastle AC club notes:  by Joe McCann Congratulations to Eoghan Totten who ran magnificently and won a bronze medal at the Ulster Schools’ XC Championships on 24^th February at Mallusk.  Eoghan finished in an exceptionally quick time of 21:05, just 4 seconds behind silver medal winner and Down Schools’ champion, Andrew Monaghan and 29 seconds behind S Kerr from Armagh who won impressively in a time 0f 20:34. Eoghan has now qualified for the AVIVA Irish Schools XC Championships which will take place on 12th March.  Again as the competition moves up in class with Ulster athletes competing against the best from the other three provinces, Eoghan will require another improved performance if he is to collect his third medal of the series. He certainly has the talent and Ulster athletes have competed strongly for medals in recent years. At the weekend Eoghan was competing again, this time at Scottish Indoor Championships. Eoghan started strong and led for much of the race. Unfortunately he was overtaken on the bell and finished 4^th in a time of 4:14:77. Eoghan can be very pleased with this performance given that he has been focusing on endurance in recent weeks and not mid distance which of course explains his lack of pick up in the last 200m of the race. Other fine performances [caption id="attachment_20731" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Sarah Dougherty and Aine Rice who performed well at the NI Civil Service X/C race at Stormont."][/caption] Other Newcastle athletes were in action: Ciara Gibson finished 36^th in a field of 100 junior girls. Aidan Hawkins finished 61^st and Corey Smyth finished 106^th in a field of 135 minor boys. Four Newcastle AC junior girls competed in the minor girls’ race. In a field of 114 athletes, Chloe Rooney finished 26^th, Eilis Doyle 45^th, Catriona Doyle 57^th and Megan Rodgers 84^th. The NI Primary School XC Final took place before the on the same day at Mallusk. In a field of 162 girls Michaela Quinn had a great race and finished in 20^th place in a time of 6:34. Lucy Kenneally finished in 127^th place in a time of 8:05. In a field of 158 boys Gabriel Corrigan finished in 60^th place in a time of 6:19 and Caolan Hawkins finished in 68^th in a time of 6:25. Our primary school juniors are all P6 and were racing against P7’s so next year they will be back to improve their performances. Well done to all and we look forward to reading of greater success in a year’s time. Only two of our juniors made it to the NI Civil Service XC race at Stormont yesterday. A field of 130 P5, P6 and P7 girls all ran together in the same race.  Sarah Dougherty (P6) finished in 43^rd place and Aine Rice (P5) finished in 122^nd place. Well done girls for showing great commitment in making the trip to Stormont and performing well.  Well done also to Anne Sandford who finished 12^th in the senior ladies race. Keeping it in the family Belated congratulations to David O’Flaherty who recorded an impressive win in the Extreme 26 race held in Castlewellan on 17^th February.  This timely return to form will be welcomed by his colleagues with the Hill and Dale series only six weeks away. David’s sister Kerry Harty continued to sparkle at the weekend with another win and PB at the weekend.  Competing for the Cardiff Dragons (not to be confused with an Elite League Ice Hockey outfit!!!) in the UK Athletics inter-city 1500m championships, Kerry recorded an impressive victory in 4:18:11, beating her previous best of 4:20:90 recorded in Vienna last year.  Kerry was followed home by Orla Drummord representing Birmingham in a time of 4:19:82 and Faye Fullerton was third for London in 4:23:96. A race date for your diary Liatroim Fontenoys GAC, in association with Newcastle AC, is proud to present the Leitrim 5 mile road race & 2 mile fun walk/run.  Sponsored by McGrady Financial Services, AJC Electrical, Mourne Fresh Foods Newcastle, Smyths Centra Newcastle, and the Fresh Food Centre Castlewellan, the race will take place on Saturday 2nd April 2011 with the 2 mile fun walk/run at 1pm followed by the 5 mile road race at 2pm.  Both will start at Fontenoy Park, 11 Backaderry Road, Leitrim. (For those using satellite navigation the postcode is BT31 9SL) Nestled between Castlewellan Forest Park and the Dromara Mountains in stunning valley surroundings, this 5 mile road race offers elite athletes, age group competitors and fitness runners a different, challenging course in Leitrim’s unique, scenic and small village setting. This event is the perfect race for anyone in marathon preparation, 10k road race mode, preparing for the Hill and Dale race series or simply enjoying running for fitness. The 2 mile fun walk/run offers an opportunity for the whole family to get out and enjoy the challenge, taking in the well known Leitrim mile. Entries will be taken on race day from 12 noon: Registered Athletes £7 Unregistered Athletes £8 and Fun walk/run £3.  There will be individual and GAA club team prizes. The minimum age for 5 mile race is 16.  Secure changing/shower facilities are available for use and hot food and refreshments will be served after the race. For further information please contact Frank Morgan 07791510867 or Brendan Quail 07827394948. More Notes 24 male athletes took the line last Friday evening in a celebration in honour of Alan Strachan. The early pace was set by Pol Og who was showing fine form and even paid his club membership (he had been threatened that there was no food for those who were not official members).  It remains uncertain as to which year the membership was actually for. On his inside a spurting surge was made by Eugene McGosh who had brought his own mobile hotel to ensure a good night’s sleep.  Lesser spotted Damien Brannigan also made a rare appearance, consumed a small glass of stout and was almost apoplectic when a second appeared.  In true form he thought about it for a long time before declining to consume and finding a suitable candidate to drink it for him; gladly there were plenty of volunteers. Finally he left for home just as the food was being served claiming that he could not cope with food that had flavour!  The bulgur wheat had probably been longingly awaiting the return of its master!  The food arrived and new granddad McGreevy was equally fussy, licking a potato wedge and on deciding it was not to his palate slid in to from whence it had come thinking that no-one had noticed.  He really should have known better in the company he was in!  All ended well when an emotional rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland’ followed by ‘Caledonia’ saw the big man off in fine style. We all wish him well and look forward to his return for a visit. Finally the new mountain running season begins next Saturday at Slieve Gullion. No doubt all the usual suspects will be there to make an early statement of their intentions for the season. Further details can be found on the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association (NIMRA) website (www.nimra.org.uk/) ]]>