After the plethora of races over the past weeks last weekend was a strangely "uneventful"affair with nothing scheduled on the calendar – perhaps it's to rest those feet for the marching ahead or the holiday journeys to exotic destinations. What ever the reason it is surely at time to look forward to what's happening next on the local running scene and let the mouth water at the prospect of the Portaferry Gala Week 10 Mile Road race incorporating a 2 x 5 Mile Relay on Tuesday 21 July. This event has become one of the mot popular races on the calendar and attracted over 400 runners last year. There are top prizes in all categories and lots of spot prizes on offer too in this high quality race promoted jointly by east Dwn AC and NI Civil Service AC and sponsored by Up&Running. It is Race 2 in the 10 Mile Grand Prix series which kicked off last month in Limavady and continues in Ballyclare on 15^th August and Armagh on 11 October. Winners of the Series will be determined by participants best 3 out of the 4 races and special T-Shirts will be awarded to runners completing all four races.

The Relay section is aimed at younger runners and those who haven't yet reached the level of running 10 Miles and with prizes for the first Male Team, Female Team, Mixed Team and Parent and Child Team it's expected to attract record numbers too – entries can be made online at www.runrunrun.co.uk The race starts at 7.45pm from the new Sports Centre on the Cloughey Rd and those crossing by ferry should take the 7.00pm sailing at the latest. Don't miss this one – or indeed the remaining races in the Tour of the County Down Series which continuse with the RGU Downpatrick 10K and 2 leg Relay on Tueday 11^th August, the Darragh Cross 6 Mile Chsrity Race and Fun Run on Saturday 22^nd August and concludes with the Killyleagh 5 Mile Race on Friday 25^th August. For information on any of these events contact Joe Quinn 44614235 or 07933214894 or the Club's website www.spanglefish.com/eastdownac.

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12 July 2009