A lot happening but not a lot happening? Maybe that's the feeling you get when you're not competing or not attending races, as happened at the weekend, courtesy of my reluctant left leg and recently acquired chest infection. On Saturday Elaine Burch continued her recent good form with 7th place and a medal in the All Ireland Girls Under 19 Cross Country Championships at the Curragh, a good springboard from which to launch future success with Lagan Valley AC and I have every confidence that she will make her mark on a bigger stage in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for the quartet of Jackie Gilbride, Philip Vint, Gavin Oakes and Mark McDowell as the icy underfoot conditions led to the cancellation of the Saturday morning 5K in Victoria Park, though having made the journey they ran for almost 8 miles around the streets before they decided it was too slippery and that coffee and scones were a better option. Jackie was the wisest of the lot, skipping the runaround in favour of the refreshments, a trick she picked up in New York. Who says runners only think about running?
In the afternoon Aoife Cochrane was a lone Junior at the Dromore Cross Country races and gave the usual good account of herself over what is regarded as the toughest of the off road courses. Ryan Hagen flew the flag for the Seniors, taking 5th place in the Open race.
Sunday morning saw one group head for Tollymore Park for a leisurely 90 minutes in the most serene of settings, while some others were being introduced to the delights of the Chrstmas Cracker route around Castlewellan Park by our good friends from the Newcastle club. Needless to say all of above were followed by visits to coffee shops, restaurants and other dens of iniquity, intent on undoing all the good work of the previous few hours.
The more disciplined members, Michael Cultra, Declan Teague and James Magennis, took part in the first Trail race in Castleward on Sunday afternoon, over 4 laps of a 2.2 mile circuit, finishing in 62, 63 and 70 minutes respectively, good indications that they're in fighting form for the aforementioned Cracker on 27 December and for which I'm currently looking for a one legged (must be left leg) partner to whom I can strap the rest of my body. No suggestions to visit knacker's yards, morgue or cemetery will be entertained.
Happy Christmas to You All.
Joe Quinn
12 December 2011
