One of the country's best road races, Jimmy's Ten, is only a few days away. This now firmly established St Patrick's Festival event takes to the roads around Downpatrick on Sunday 15th with a 12.00 noon start and a record crowd is expected. The race has a New Primary Sponsor this year in the form of M.B McGrady & Co. Chartered Accountants, Belfast, Downpatrick and Newtownards while Down Democrat has continued to provide invaluable support in producing colourful entry forms,posters and in widespread media promotion. In fact as a direct result of its press publicity well over 100 entries have so far been received

East Down officials promise that it will be bigger and better than ever with something to offer everyone, be they walkers, novices or more hardened runners. The race offers great prizemoney with £200 on offer to both men and women winners and the carrot of an extra £50 for a new race record, currently 30.20 for men and 34.17 for women and £100 and £50 respectively for 2nd and 3rd placed athletes.  But the prizes don't stop there.  East Down have always prided themselves in spreading the honours as widely as possible and are offering prizemoney and trophies to all first and second placed runners in all categories from Over/35 to Over/70 as well as for first Male and Female Under 18. Last year's winner as in the previous 2 years, Joe McAlister has already indicated his intention to try to emulate Paul Rowan's record of 4 in a row titles and with Rowan, Brian Campbell, NI 10K Senior Champion, Junior Champion Stephen Scullion and veterans Dave Morwood and Alan McCullough also in the field a titanic battle at the front is ensured.  Lagan Valley's Suzanne McCormick and Catriona McCorkell head the women's entries and are likely to be joined by Cathy McCourt in the battle for the Ladies title.

Last year's event was graced by Dame Mary Peters and Ron Hill MBE, two of the greats of  world athletics, but this year East Down are delighted to welcome its own home grown talent in the shape of James O'Hare who deserves the plaudits as recently crowned All Ireland Schools Senior Cross Country Champion, a worthy guest on any stage. Peter Ferris who has run over 300 marathons including North and South Pole events and is training for this year's repeat in aid of the Ulster Cancer Foundation has also indicated his intention to run, and Dermot Kerr the Armagh stalwart who set the world's best time (2.32)for a marathon in the Over 50 category last year is also expected.

But there's more – every finisher will be entered in a draw for a £700 holiday voucher and there are weekend and midweek hotel breaks, vouchers for free meals and days at the races also to be won  - the only proviso being that to collect the prizes winners must be present at the draw, made at the prizegiving ceremony in Down Leisure Centre after the race.

 And this year a special memento will be given to all entrants.

As well as the 10K race itself the popular Relay Race for Teams of 2, will be an option for those who cannot yet face the overall 6.2 mile distance, particularly the younger and novice runners - and of course a special welcome is extended to Walkers who turned out in great numbers last year. Please note that walkers will be expected to leave no later than 11.00am to be back in time for the presentations.

The organisers are encouraging runners to Pre-Enter and are offering a reduced rate,  to help avoid congestion on the morning of the race, though they stress that entries will be taken on the day from 10.00am onwards in Down Leisure Centre.  Pre-entrants will simply have to call at Registration to collect their running numbers.

Uniquely also, entrants who can't manage to run on the day for whatever reason will be offered a refund, so get your entries in and don't worry about the credit crunch, you can't lose on this one.! And another first. Down District Council Chairman, Colin McGrath already in the record books as the youngest ever council leader in NI seeks to set another first by taking part in the race itself, certainly the first from DDC and perhaps any other council, to do so.

Entry Forms are available on the club's website www.spanglefish.com/eastdownac or from Athletics Northern Ireland website www.niathletics.org or by email from joemarathon50@btinternet.com or phone 02844 614235 or 07933214894

Joe Quinn
5 March 2009