In spite of forecasts of wind and rain Sunday was bright, sunny and reasonably warm for the 11th running of Jimmy's Ten, which attracted record numbers of almost 600 runners and 100 walkers, all out to complete the 6.2 miles around the stunningly beautiful Quoile area but which has the arduous challenge, some might say pilgrimage, of English St and a circuit of the Cathedral to sap the energy of the over zealous early on.  So well done to all crossed the finish line, especially to those doing the distance for the first time - it's an achievement to be proud of , irrespective of your time.

As expected the race was dominated by 3 times previous winner Joe McAlister, St Malachy's AC reigning NI 10K Road Racing Champion, NI Senior Cross Country Champion Brian Campbell, Willowfield and Junior Cross Country Champion Stephen Scullion, North Belfast Harriers.  But this is McAlister's territory now and no one was going to deprive him of equalling Paul Rowan's stunning record of 4 wins in a row.  He moved away from the other duo and evergreen veteran Alan McCullough at the three quarter distance stage and romped home 40 seconds of Scullion with Campbell just 4 seconds further back. McCullough finished a remarkable fourth with Rowan 5th.

The ladies race was won by Cathy McCourt, North Belfast Harriers in 38.15 just 4 seconds ahead of Dromore duo of Julie Turley and Gillian Burns 38.26. And it proved an amazingly successful day for the Dromore club, one of the best and most active in the country, as not only did Nigel Grier and Geraldine Branagh win their respective Over 45 categories and Mary Mackin  took second in the Over 50 category, but the Club's Wendy Fleming was drawn as the winner of the £700 holiday voucher, which was open to all participants, and was pretty pleased with the outcome.

All Ireland School's Cross Country  James O'Hare teamed up with All Ireland Silver medallist Joanne Mills to take one of the relay categories.

The event was not only graced by the presence of Brian Downing, President of the sports governing body Athletics Northern Ireland, but by Down District Council Chairman Colin McGrath who is Jimmy Murray's godson and who not only became the first Council Chairman to participate in such an event when he ran the second leg of the relay but who coincidentally is godson of Jimmy Murray after whom the event is named.

East Down AC would like to thank the staff of Down Leisure Centre, Down District Council staff, all the event sponsors, the PSNI for their excellent policing of the route, the timekeepers and results staff, the many marshals on whom they rely around the course, the registration staff and the ladies who presented and served the food afterwards and everyone who helped in any way to make it the most successful race ever.  See you again next year – meantime I'm off to Rome for a more leisurely Sunday next week running the annual marathon which takes place on the cobbled streets of that great city.

Joe Quinn

15 March 2009