The two extremes. Last year bone hard frozen ground and freezing fog, this year shin deep mud in places with the bright sunshine overhead only occasionally broken by the sleety rain driven on gale force gusts of wind. In other words near perfect cross country weather as the international stars descended on Greenmount campus for the annual IAAF International Cross Country. European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton logged another victory over arch rival Gemma Steel in a closely fought head to head contest which was only decided in the last 600 metres.
But it was the under 13 Girls who had the best of the conditions, getting to run the course before it was churned into a quagmire. Aoife Cochrane and Eimear Connor found the going tough nevertheless but stuck to their task to complete creditably in 35th and 40th places respectively in a top class field. The Under 15 Girls saw a gutsy performance from Ellen Erskine, who had to battle for 2 laps of the 1800 metre course
and finished in 34th place.
Big brother Paddy finished 2 places better in the Boys equivalent, running a finely judged race throughout. The highlight of the day however, came in the Boys Primary School race where Tim Prenter placed a splendid 4th just ahead of the ever improving Caoilin Quinn in 7th with Andrew and Matthew McGrattan, Johnny Erskine and Padraig Rogan fairly flying home close behind. Had there been a team prize for this event then the East Down lads would have won it hands down.
But perhaps these performances proved the perfect inspiration for the Senior men over a gruelling 10.8 kilometre distance which saw many talented club runners almost reduced to a walk by the finish. Brendan Teer again led the East Down squad home and could be pleased with his 42nd position in the muscle wrenching conditions. Ryan Hagen and Mark McDowell were next from the county town club to finish with Declan Teague and Michael McKeown just 50 seconds and 4 places apart at the line.
The Kenyans once again dominated the event with last year's winner Mike Kigen powering to a third win with St Malachy's Joe McAllister the best of the local runners in a tremendous 12th place in a field of 136 runners, over 100 more than last year, evidence that the new Cross Country League is having a positive effect on the current season's numbers, though combining it with the N.I. Senior Cross Country Championships was an inspired move too.
All but the top 25 were lapped, some twice, by the high class athletes at the front but there is no shame in that – all deserved credit for finishing on a course which could easily have finished them. Brave and tenacious efforts by all involved.
Of course one side effect of the bitingly cold conditions is that they offer new challenges to other usually quite mundane tasks. Take for instance the routine answering of a call of nature. It is vitally important to remember while trying to breathe some life into numb fingers just how many layers of clothing were applied earlier. If it was 4 and you think 3, then the warm glow of satisfaction and relief which follows will become cold comfort long before you emerge into the elements again. On the other hand if it was 3 and you think 4, trying to remove a layer of skin thinking it to be a thermal undergarment will prove painful in the extreme! How do I know this? Use your imagination!
ROLLERCOASTER RACES AT THE RACECOURSE
Next weekend will be the Racecourse Rollercoaster races, beginning at 12.00 noon with Primary Schools races followed by Age Group races at Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 level climaxing with the Senior race over 25 furlongs (5K or 3.1 miles in non horse racing parlance) at 2.00pm in the unique setting of Downpatrick racecourse. This is not a Cross Country event as all the races take place on the perimeter road so there will be no wet or muddy feet to contend with and while there are neither hurdles nor fences to negotiate they are not flat races either! Come along and find out why.
Entries for all races will be taken on the day. Online entry for Jimmy's Ten will be available from next weekend too.
Joe Quinn
23 January 2012
