The Olympic Torch is coming. Great excitement was generated by the announcement a few weeks ago that the Olympic Torch Relay will pass through local towns and villages on 7 June. Well actually that's not quite right, it caused barely a ripple of interest and I certainly have not detected the anticipated air of expectancy in the district. I would have thought that the imminent arrival of the torch as it entered the final stages of its odyssey to the London Olympics in July/August would have generated considerable interest. Perhaps I was being naive but I always thought that the torch began a carefully planned journey immediately after the closing of one Olympic Games to ensure it could get to all the countries within the Olympic family,in the intervening 4 years, before finally reaching the next host nation in time for the opening ceremony.
I also thought the Olympic torch was THE Olympic Torch, i.e. there was only one, which was transported around the world virtually by hand, carefully passing from one bearer to the next.
It now appears that not only is there more than one, there are thousands, practically one per bearer and that one of these torches is only physically carried through pre-determined towns and villages, before being loaded into a vehicle for travel to the next location. As a result many fewer torchbearers are required.
Unfortunately this knowledge removes a lot of the mystique and glamour and I am disappointed that this once in a lifetime occasion has been somewhat diluted, given that not much else is happening in NI that is directly attributable to the Olympics being next door, in London.
However given the call for the public to turn out and support the torchbearers on their historic passage through the towns I will be there, having arranged my holidays so as not to miss it. But if you do want to be part of the numbers to actually see the the torch you'll have to be wide awake and hawk eyed. The timetable for the event in Downpatrick (Ballydugan Rd) is 8.01am with Crossgar scheduled for 8.21am. So the torch will have to get from Downpatrick to Crossgar in twenty minutes including the carrying through the town. If any of you travel that road at that time of day you'll know just what a challenge that will be and in the absence of Usain Bolt or a helicopter it's a pretty tall order.
SLIEVE DONARD RACE
The sole torch bearer for East Down AC in Saturday's annual Slieve Donard race was Brian Wilson and he had the satisfaction of reaching the summit in 59.58, though to put this worthy effort in perspective, the first 6 runners were already back at the finish line in Newcastle by this time -phenomenal running with Andrew Annett, Stephen Cunningham and deon McNeilly filling the podium positions. Brian finished in a commendable 1.28. A remarkable run too by Dominic McGreevy, improving with age, claiming first Over 55 prize in just 64 minutes.
While those brave folk were enjoying themselves on the mountain I made my competitive comeback in the Family Fun Challenge in aid of Mary Murray House. Not a very auspicious occasion to be honest as I was outrun by everyone else including my 3 year old granddaughter Mya McFall. On the eve of the anniversary of the first sub 4 minute mile she clocked 15.20 for the distance along the Promenade and the only excuse I can offer is that she's not as young as you think – she hits the big 4 in two weeks time!
Joe Quinn
6 May 2012
