A perfect day for running and an even better one for spectating welcomed around 150 runners and their supporters to Saul on Sunday for the 3rd running of the increasingly popular Round the Griddle 10K and 5K Fun Run. Indeed never has the breathtaking beauty of the countryside under the benign gaze of St Patrick been shown to better effect. It was a reminder that we are incredibly lucky to live in such splendid surroundings and indeed further evidence that the former slave boy was probably a runner.
The air was calm though nippy and the sun sparkling as Council Chairman Dermot Curran set the Fun Runners on their way on the stroke of 12 noon, to be followed 10 minutes later by over 100 more experienced athletes covering all ages and a wide range of abilities.
THE 5K RACE
The first athlete to re-appear on the long haul to the finish line was Mark McGrady who won the 5K race 2 year's ago, and would have been claiming the hat trick had he not been misdirected last year. He fairly flew up the finish funnel to record a splendid 22.36, a new record for the distance (it's actually 3.6 miles so it's even more commendable) and almost 90 seconds quicker than his time of 2 year's ago. One hopes this talent will not be entirely lost to football.
Caolan Magee was second Boy and in third overall and first female was East Down's Laura Gardiner in 24.51. Indeed it was great to see so many of the East Down and Newcastle clubs junior members taking part, ably supported by Saul and Longstone GAC juniors too. The other East Down runners Matthew Carrick, Adam Bell, Colum Morgan all competed well in the relative novelty of road running while the girls, Aoife Cochrane, Elisha Surginor and Eimear Connor all returned commendable times too. Niall and Anna Rogan ran well for Newcastle AC while Tyrone Poland and Dean Haughian kept the Longstone GAC colours in the picture.
It was not all about the juniors though as there were stirring performances too from Pat Crawford and Ann McAlarney from Murlough and mothers Sharon Connor and Oonagh Cochrane from East Down who perhaps might just be thinking of a slightly longer distance inside the next12 months?
THE 10K RACE
The 10K race was probably over as a contest by the first kilometre marker as brendan Teer imposed a blistering pace from the off, maintaining his domination of the field to the end and recording a new race record time of 32.57. Those of you who know the course will know just how good that time is as it beat his time of 2 year's ago by a minute and 44 seconds and was 52 seconds quicker than last year's time set by Armagh's Richard Turkington. Runner up was ever competitive Ryan Holt from the Willowfield club in 34.34 with St Malachy's John Frazer in third in 36.06.
In fourth place was Brendan Quail, one of only two Newcastle AC runners to appear in spite of Joe McCann's prediction of last week, but since he was primarily representing the Liatroim Fontenoys GAC in the team event perhaps that two should be a one?
Ryan Hagen 38.23 was second East Down man home followed by Liam Keenan 38.34, 27 seconds better than last year and again taking the Over 45 crown, with Mark McDowell clocking a superb 38.52 and a personal best for the distance and just being pipped for the Over 35 prize by Lagan Valley's David Wright. Gavin Oakes was delighted to break 44 minutes, courtesy of his taskmaster Declan Teague. Stephen Heasley 44.42 made a rare and successful appearance in the colours as did Tom McClean 47.20 while young David Devenney could be well satisfied with 47.30 a nine second improvement on 2010.
LADIES WINNERS
The East Down Ladies and indeed all the Ladies were led home by Cheryl Denvir in 44.41 as she held off the strong challenge of Nuala Reilly 44.44 from Drogheda & District AC with Mourne Runners Virginia Ervine 45.15 in third place. Lisa Milligan 51.34 continued her recent good form to take the Over 35 title. While there is no bus park at Saul East Down's trio of coaches Roisin Gaffney, Deirdre Mount and Emer Moore simply toured round the course in well under the hour and are also toying with the idea of an excursion over a longer distance in the not too distant future.
SEAFORDE RUNNING CLUB
It was great to see the Ladies of Seaforde Running Club out in force too with Patricia O'Loan 49.49 picking up the prize for first Over 45 and putting the icing on the cake as Shan Brennan, Lorraine Kidd and Hazel Phillips all completed in style. Well done ladies, if you can run the Griddle you can run anything – keep it up.
East Down won both the athletic club team event with Saul GAC winning the Non-Athletic club Ladies trophy and Liatroim GAC the Male equivalent.
A memorable day ended in the convivial atmosphere of the Community Hall where a commendable array of food, drink and fruit was done full justice to by the grateful participants. This event is becoming an annual not to be missed occasion and great credit must go to chief organiser and motivator Chris McLoughlin. Club Vice Chairman Eddie Harney afterwards expressed his thanks to race sponsors Coca Cola, Flowers by Tracey, Conor Polly, Maggie Jane's Disco and Hugh O'Boyle's, to the PSNI, Council Chairman Dermot Curran and to the hardworking ladies who looked after the refreshments.
NEWS FLASH
Just heard that Elaine Burch claimed a medal for a top 12 placing by taking 11th place in the Irish Under 18 Cross Country Championships in Sligo on Sunday while Newcastle's Eoghan Totten was a superb 6th in the Junior Men's race beating the Monaghan twins in the process. Kerry Harty finished 4th in the in the European Trials at the same meeting. Well done to all – more details from the newcastle correspondent next week.
Joe Quinn
28 November 2011
