Friday night saw a creditable field of 109 runners take on the challenge of the  Killyleagh 5 Mile Road race, the final race in the Tour of the County Down series,  sponsored by the Killyleagh Brewing Company. From an East Down AC perspective it was very much Ladies Night with Ellen Erskine winning the Under 16 round the town race in fine style, D'Arcey Campbell taking the Under 11 title, Megan Wilson flying home to win the Senior race, in which Dad Brian made a welcome return, and Betty McCartan collecting her first silverware with victory in the Over 50 category. The icing on the cake was provided by Eimear Degan's completion of the scenic but quite demanding course in a very respectable time. It would appear she has inherited her father's genes if his exploits in the recent Seven Sevens Mountain race in the Mournes and completion of the GaelForce West running/kayaking/cycling/running challenge in Westport and Connemara are anything to go by.

Ellen's big brother Paddy fought out a tremendous battle with Eoin Findlay in the Boys race over the 4 laps of the 2.5 kilometres distance, coming home strongly to make it a family double.
 
Ideal running conditions meant excellent times overall in the 5 Miler and the large contingent from East Down got their weekend off to the perfect start with very impressive times.

Willowfield's Allan McCullough showed his liking for the course and that he has lost none of his superiority over the young guns by winning for the second year in a row by in a time of 26.06, well clear of his nearest rival, Annadale's Paul Carroll and a trio of his Willowfield team mates. Liam Venney followed up his 3rd place in Darragh Cross with another fine run to take 6th place. 

On Saturday Denis McKay completed the tough 10 Mile Rathlin Run, won by last week's Darragh winner Philip Goss,  in 1 hour 42 minutes to signal his return to fitness after his recent encounter with a virus.

The focus this  week will be on Castlewellan on Thursday night (2nd) for the annual Mill Hill Mile. This is one that every runner worth his or her salt should undertake so make it to the Library in Upper Square, Castlewellan to register from 6.30pm onwards. You then warm up by running down to Annsborough for the 7.30 pm start. The record, held by the redoubtable Deon McNeilly, is 5 minutes (and Yes that's for the uphill run) so if you follow his example it won't take long to do. Whatever you do don't miss it.

See you there.

Joe Quinn
30 August 2010