Incredible as it may seem it’s round to that time of year again when on foot of New Year Resolutions to “get fit” thoughts turn to St Patrick’s Festival and Jimmy’s Ten.  Now firmly established as one of the country’s premier road races it celebrates its10th  birthday this year.

Scheduled for Sunday 15th March East Down officials promise that it will be bigger and better than ever with something to offer everyone, be they walkers, novices or more hardened runners. On Thursday night past the Club welcomed Mr Mal McGrady and Kieran Smyth of new primary sponsor M.B McGrady, Chartered Accountants to a photo call at Down Leisure Centre, together with existing Relay race sponsor Liam Keenan, as they announced details of this year’s races.

The Club has also been fortunate to secure the co-operation of Downe Travel Service in providing a mouth watering travel voucher to the value of £700 which will be the top prize in a draw open to all finishers in the Race and Walk. Nowhere else offers such a valuable incentive. Not only that but at least 2 overnight stays in local hotels will also be available in the draw - all winners will have to do is finish the event they enter AND be present in the Leisure Centre when the draw is made. What could be simpler.
And of course the same range of prizes as in previous years are on offer for overall winners and all category winners.  The top prizes of £200 for both men and women can also be supplemented by £50 if  new race records are set. Entry Forms are presently in the process of printing, thanks to the ongoing and generous support of Down Democrat, and should be available next week.

As well as the 10K race itself the popular 2 person Relay Team category will again be an option for those who cannot yet face the overall 6.2 mile distance, particularly the younger and novice runners - and of course a special welcome is extended to Walkers who turned out in great numbers last year.



WEEKEND RACES

On Saturday last it was the turn of Moira Demesne to provide the venue of City Of Lisburn’s cross country races where conditions were good underfoot though a strong headwind provided testing going in the final quarter of the 1 mile course lap.

However it didn’t deter the pupils from Cedar Integrated Primary School in Crossgar as they continued their recent good form over the grass. The 1000 metres Boys race was won splendidly by Callum Crawford Walker, surely one to watch for the future, with B. McKeen in 6th place,  Finton Walsh in 11th, Ethan Jennings in 20th indicating their good form as they prepare for the Primary School Rollercoaster Race in 2 weeks time.  The Cedar Girls also kept up the good work with H. Gilmore winning impressively, sister Alice in 8th and Amy Godfrey in 16th.

East Down’s Niall Forrest made an eyecatching first appearance of the season in the Boys race coming home in 10th place in a time of 4.14, with Marc Breteche, also a debutant, posting 4.53 in 27th place.  In the Post Primary Boys race over one lap Patrick Sheridan fairly romped away with the winners medal, to add to the title he won at Dromore before Christmas and provide a real confidence booster for the local event in 2 weeks time.

Only three East Down men turned out in the Senior race over 4 miles - 4 laps of the park as flu and colds continue to affect greater participation. Stephen Shannon it was who led the trio home, clocking 24.03, just 2 places ahead of  Liam Keenan, 24.16, with Terry Eakin providing the filling in the sandwich. Just returning from illness Joe Quinn was happy to complete in 28.37 and have a couple of fellow plodders in his wake.

Next weekend it’s back to Stormont for the Junior and Veterans Cross Country Championships, where bugs permitting, a strong East Down presence will be evident.


11 January 2009