There's a common saying in running circles to “watch your back” usually in connection with
looking out for rivals coming from behind but increasingly for me it has become a case of watching
more and more of other people's backs, mostly Club colleagues, as they disappear into the distance.
The good news is that this represents the fruits of dedicated and increased training programmes
undertaken over recent months, the bad news is that these “new kids on the block” are no respecters
of age – and rightly so.

Saturday's Seeley Cup race in the Ormeau Park, which incorporates the Northern Ireland 10,000
metres Road Racing Championships, saw a record number of East Down AC runners take on the
challenge with a field of over 700 athletes from across the country. And they were not disappointed with the results, in fact many of them achieved personal bests for the distance.  It was good to see Brendan Teer taking part in developments at the front of the field again and a sub 33 was a heartening result.  Philip Vint too absolutely demolished his previous best for the distance carving almost 2 minutes off and ducking under 40 minutes for the first time – proof if it were needed that marathon training can deliver improved 10K times too. Mark McDowell must now be considering the 40 minute barrier as he winged in to a 43.04 finish.

Gerard McAuley took 2 minutes of his previous best and Simon McGrattan, Garry McLaughlin, Gavin Oakes, Peter Morgan and Michael Degan all had sub- 50 minute times. For the Ladies Kim Surginor, another marathoner, also broke 50 minutes for the first time and recent recruit Tracey McDowell knocked a massive 7 minutes of her previous best.  I expect they will be providing even more backs for me to have a look at in the not too distant future.

Well Done to all – and there's better still to come – that's a threat as well as a challenge!

However the most noteworthy performance of the day has to be Eamon Tumelty's 43.33, just 2 weeks after making a comeback in Saul and more years than he would care to remember since he last competed in this event. A former top contender and respected coach he has been away from running due to long standing injuries but the old competitive instinct is still there. With a little more training and a little bit of luck he will be threat to any in his age group -  and others!

And while I'm delighted to see him back I didn't even see his back on Saturday.

Sunday saw Patrick Sheridan travel to the University campus at Coleraine for the All Ireland Under 13 Age Group Championships and finish a very creditable 9th overall – so the Seniors had better look to their laurels.

Next Saturday is Dromore Cross Country races and all local athletes are encouraged to give this excellent Club their support.


Joe Quinn

6 December 2009

NAME    TIME (mins/secs)
BRENDAN TEER    32.54
PHILIP VINT    38.42 pb
GERRY BURNS    40.58
MICHAEL McKEOWN    41.31
DECLAN TEAGUE    42.24
KRISTOFFER FEGAN    42.32
MARK McDOWELL    43.04 pb
JAMES MAGENNIS    43.51 pb
STEPHEN McCARTAN    44.00
JOE QUINN    45.29
SIMON McGRATTAN    45.35 pb
GARRY McLAUGHLIN    45.45
GERARD McAULEY    47.16 pb
GAVIN OAKES    48.07 pb
PETER MORGAN    49.11 pb
KIM SURGINOR    49.37 pb
MICHAEL DEGAN    49.56 pb
DENIS McKAY    50.54 pb
TRACEY McDOWELL    50.58 pb
COLM SURGINOR    53.46 pb
PAUL ROGAN    54.18 pb
CATHERINE WOODS    63.08 pb
   

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