Rollecoaster Races day at Downpatrick Racecourse was as usual bright and frosty but all traces of the icing had disappeared long before the first runners arrived and underfoot conditions were perfectly safe for the opening race, a new addition this year for P3 Boys and Girls, won by Daniel Shiel and Anna Gardiner respectively.
50 Girls and 74 Boys in P4/5 age group were next to tackle the mighty Heartbreak Hill from near the 2 furlong post on the racecourse with Matthew McKeown, Caolan Lennon and Kyle Broggy taking the podium positions for the Boys and Celeste Forde Dearbhla Curry and Mia Pobloth likewise for the Girls.
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEAM SHIELDS
The P6/7 Girls race over an energy sapping Kilometre distance was won by Kilmaine's Zoe Thompson with Rachel Scott St Ita's second and Libby Maloney Cedar in third. Zoe led her school mates Abbie Webster 7th, Brooke Stranaghan 9th and Lucy McIlmail 10th to victory in the School Shield team competition for the second year in a row.
Not to be outdone in terms of doubles Cedar's Andrew McGrattan, last year's P4/5 winner repeated the action in the P6/7 Boys race, holding on from Kilmaine's Jakob Swann and Our Lady and St Patrick's Oran Cunningham to help his school regain the Team Shield ably assisted by Oliver Gilmore 5th, Arthur Johnson 9th and Philip Crichton 13th.
It was like Gold Cup day at Cheltenham such were the cheers of proud teachers and parents as all 106 starters in the two races passed the winning post.
The shields and trophies this year as every year since the event's inception were donated by East Down Honorary Life member John McKeag who is re-invigorated by the sight of the stirring revival currently underway in his beloved Ballydrain Harriers club.
UNDER 13's
Tim Prenter stepped up from Primary School level with effortless ease to claim the Under 13 Boys title with club mate and fellow graduate to the bigger boys, Owen Edwards impressive in second place. In third was Down High's Christy Lindsay ahead of St Patrick's Grammar's Conor Macklin and East Down's third placed runner Chris O'Connor. Ella Carroll led the girls home in this category, clocking 6.30 for the tough 1500 metres, with Louise Sweeney 2nd, Mary Jo Tumelty in 3rd and both under 7 minutes, while debutante Charis Vinaccia battled through the discomfort of a stitch to finish 5th.
UNDER 15's
Only 3 competitors took to the line in this race, 2 boys, one of whom Mylo Campbell , ran because he missed his P7 race earlier, and one girl Sarah Lambert from the ever supportive St Peter's Club in Lurgan who gave a good account of herself to finish just 22 seconds behind Newcastle's Daniel Molloy. But where were all the others?
BRENDAN'S RECORD
In the absence of the host club's big hitters Brendan Teer and Liam Venney it was almost inevitable that a new name would appear on the Rollercoaster Winners List. When the runners passed the winning post for the first timenewcastle's david McNeilly had already established a useful lead over East Down's Martin Willcox and former winner David O'Flaherty. Despite the best efforts of the latter pair however David maintained and indeed increased his advantage at the finish, having 31 seconds in hand over Martin who in turn had a 5 second advantage. Next home was the Over 35 winner Conor McMullan Annadale Striders with Over 45 winner Nigel Grier Dromor AC in 5th spot. Mark McDowell, Liam Keenan and Phillip Vint all finished closely ahead of Ladies winner Patricia O'Hagan with Ryan Andrews Ballydrain Harriers the first Under 20 finisher just behind her.
FOUR TIMER FOR PATRICIA
Patricia O' Hagan, St Peter's AC Lurgan made it 4 in a row in the Ladies Race and so far has been the only person to win it, with the Lagan Valley duo of Ruth Magill and Fionnuala McCourt in second and third places respectively.
JIMMY's TEN
And now it's all energies towards the fast approaching Jimmy's Ten which takes place this year on Sunday 17 March at the new starting time of 11.00 am. As well as the usual top prizes on offer plus increased bonuses for new race records, thanks to the continued sponsorship of MB McGrady & Co, Chartered Accountants. all finishers will be included in a draw for a £500 cash prize. With entries limited to 600, runners are urged to enter now. To encourage those who are dubious about their plans yet the Club is making the unique offer to carry over entries to 2014 if anyone is unable to run after entering this year.
Online entry is open at www.athleticsni.org and for further details visit the club's website at www.eastdownac.co.uk or call me on 07933214894
Joe Quinn
3 February 2013
