Global Warming? If anything was designed to put paid to gloom laden forecasts about the earth overheating it was surely the conditions which engulfed the Stormont estate on Saturday afternoon for the Junior, Intermediate and Veterans Cross Country Championships. Cold is bad, wet is worse, windy is about the worst that runners have to endure, but put them all together and the last thing that comes to mind is global warming.  It had all started off so well with a fine sunny and dry morning mocking the weather predictions of torrential rain and gale force winds - how wrong they were for as the afternoon wore on it was worse than that.

The first race of the day saw the Male Veterans in the 35 to 60 age groups take on the elements and in truth the first of the rain had eased by the time the gun sounded though the wind was gathering intensity.  This was to prove real problems as over 8000 metres of the 2,000 metre circuit was directly into a headwind, which also caused athlete’s “dry” clothing and official’s time sheets to cover a good part of the course in defiance of the laws of gravity.   Three East Down Clubmen took up the challenge with Liam Keenan putting in a spirited round to finish the five miles in 33.16 and Brian Wilson, making a welcome return to the cross country scene, clocking 35.35 while Joe Quinn turned the tables on last week’s conqueror John Glover by recording 38.20.  Conditions then deteriorated further with the wind not only stopping people in their tracks but literally bowling them over and it was only the prospect of Patricia’s hot soup which won the battle back to the cars for refreshment and dry clothing.  In truth the revitalising liquid rivals anything which a St Bernard carries round its neck!

By the time clothes had been changed the ladies had endured the driving rain, the course was fast disappearing under water and Caroline O’Hare had battled superbly to 4th place in the Junior Women’s race, clocking 20.49 for the 3 mile distance.

After that the Junior and Intermediate Men’s race was lucky to start on time never mind finish as the rain was driven into parts of the body which it had never before reached, until spectators and officials were soaked irrespective of how many layers of  clothing were used - and in the midst of all this Stephen Scullion of North Belfast Harriers gave a superb display of front running to absolutely annihilate a strong field and win by almost 2 minutes, apparently oblivious to the paddy field he was running in - hope that‘s not interpreted as a racist comment?. A very welcome and heart warming display in the conditions but it’s doubtful if the globe is any warmer as a result. Suffice to say that all those involved in organising and officiating at the event and of course the runners themselves deserve the highest praise for making sure the show went ahead.

ROLLERCOASTER RACES

And next week the action switches to home ground and the surface from grass to tarmac as  Downpatrick Race Course will be the venue for the first ever Toal’s Bookmakers Rollercoaster “Derby“, around the course perimeter road.

Sandwiched between the Junior and Senior Cross Country Championships it will provide an opportunity for the top runners to do a spot of fine tuning to their form while keeping their feet dry, as it will be run entirely on tarmac, but it aimed at the novice runner and runners of all abilities who might see it as an ideal opportunity to get a first taste of running an achievable distance. The senior race over an accurate 5K distance, 3.1 miles ( about 25 furlongs in horse racing parlance) will be at 2.00pm and has already attracted widespread interest - a large turnout is anticipated. An U/20 race will also be held in conjunction with this race.

 There will also be races for P6/P7 Colts and Fillies, with a special shield for the Best Primary School Team (first 4 finishers to count) over a 1,000 metres distance as well as at U/13 (1.5K), U/15 (2K) and U/17 (2.5K) age group levels in both categories. All local schools are invited to come along - it will be ideal preparation for the upcoming schools cross country races.

WALKERS WANTED

And unlike our equine friends there will also be some action for the Non-Runners as proceedings kick off at 12.00noon with a 3K walk, that‘s just short of 2 miles, to which all the numerous local walkers, serious and not so serious are invited!  Times will be recorded and a certificate presented to each finisher and some refreshment too!


18 January 2009