JIMMY'S TEN
The dust has finally settled on another Jimmy's Ten and before we start to prepare for the next one it is appropriate to take a moment or two to reflect on some of the performances in this year's event. The race itself provided perhaps the most compelling and fiercely contested battle of all the 13 previous runnings of the event with Greg Roberts from City of Derry Spartans hitting the throttle from the off to open up a 30 second lead over St Malachy's Joe McAlister by the halfway point. But McAlister who has racked up 4 victories and a second place in the past 6 years is made of stern stuff and battled back to catch his rival with a kilometre to run. He then used his greater finishing speed to sprint away from Roberts in the last 200 metres. But he knew he had been in a mighty battle.
However there is another group of heroes whose efforts deserve to be recognised namely all those people who have no connection whatsoever with the Club other than being friends or relatives of members, who provide food and assist with the post race refreshments year after year. Your efforts do not go unnoticed so take a well deserved bow. You have helped make the after race socialising second to none.
Special mention too of the superb support provided by our two neighbouring clubs, Murlough and Newcastle AC, who fielded significant numbers of runners – very much appreciated, with fledgling club Seaforde Rookies also well represented.
Apart from those mentioned last week many of the East Down participants recorded personal bests and most posted improved times over last year. Junior members David Devenney, Adam Prenter and Eoin Quail deserve a special mention as do George and Noreen Kerr, Denis McKay, Kim Surginor back in action again, Aurla McLoughlin, Paula Savage and Maeve McDonald and Anita Redmond who knocked 2 minutes off last year's time
All this came just the day after the Raymond Milligan inspired Festival Parade float caught the eye of all as it made its way through the town and was indeed a splendid effort by all concerned.
LARNE HALF MARATHON
Saturday past was Larne Half marathon day and a sizeable contingent from East Down travelled to the sunlit shores of the ferry town for what has developed into an extremely popular event. Some were intent on testing their progress on the road to Belfast marathon in May, others using it as a warm up for London on 22 April and a few as a stepping stone on the even longer away Dublin City Marathon in October. I just went along to hone my spectating skills for London as that's as close as I'll get to the action there in 2012.
A slightly modified route which took runners through more of the town at the expense of some of the climb outside Ballygally, though perhaps making it a faster course. Certainly for Gerard McAuley, still on a high from a pb in Jimmy's Ten, it was tailor made as he improved his previous time by 11 minutes, recording 1.36.28 but raising suspicions about what he listens to on those rarely discarded headphones. Declan Teague, while setting a new best time was disappointed to pick up an injury as he looks forward to London. However all the hard work is done it's just a matter of resting up for the next few weeks, more than enough time for all aches and pains to clear up. Colum Surginor was happier with his pre London run and set a new pb into the bargain, keeping in the footsteps of master pacer Simon McGrattan.
Linda Cunningham, not content with a new pb in Jimmy's Ten, went on to set a new best mark in the half marathon distance too but in the course of the race actually improved her 10K best yet again. Brilliant.
Helen Vint also improved her time from last year but was happy just to have done it after a chest infection had taken her off the roads in recent weeks. But pride of place must go to first timer Oonagh Cochrane who set out her stall early on to do her own thing and fairly cruised home in 2.19, just ahead of another London bound member, Bernice McCann who is now fully fit again. Great efforts all round by the 15 or so who made the trip from Downpatrick.
By the way Brendan Teer held on to take a deserved 3rd place behind last week's Jimmy's Ten winner Joe McAlister and Conor Magill from North Belfast.
SPORTS RELIEF
On Sunday over 80 children and adults took part in the Sports Relief Mile and 3 Miles Fun Run from the Ballymote Health and Well Being Centre and were rewarded with fine weather, bottles of water and medals for all. The run was started by Down Council Chairman, Dermot Curran who praised participants for their efforts to raise money to help the children depicted in the heart rending reports from around the world shown on TV on Friday night. Again a huge thanks to Linda, Jordan and Shona and PSNI personnel and everyone who helped marshal around the course and made the event a considerable success.
Later on Sunday Martin Willcox took 4th place in the Castlewellan Spring Lake 10K to round off a very successful week in the life of East Down AC.
NEXT WEEK
And there's more to come next weekend with Leitrm 5 Mile Road Race and 2 Mile Fun Run on our doorstep and the Omagh Half Marathon further afield.
Joe Quinn
26 March 2012
