What's the connection between Limavady 215, Slieve Donard 114 and Loughinisland 44? It's not some numbers racket nor indeed the number of “innocent”people in each location but rather the number of competitors in the races at those venues in the past week.  East Down's contribution to the totals was 2, 1 and 4 respectively as a variety of excuses and work commitments took their toll of members participation.

In Limavady on Thursday night, the first race in the 10 Mile Grand Prix Series, Michael McKeown and yours truly were the only two to venture west of the Bann.  Michael, who must be the most prolific runner in the Club, having completed the Mourne Way Marathon, the Lisburn Half marathon and Randalstown 10K in the previous week,  recorded another PB in what has become an outstanding season, romping home in 68.40. I didn't have last year's winner of the Over 60 category to contend with as he had moved up to the Over 65s but unfortunately Irwin Spiers had moved up from the Over 55s and beat me by over 2 minutes, my time of 73.17 a minute slower than last year, an age thing perhaps? – hasn't Irwin got a pension to sit at home and count rather than deprive the deserving of much needed income?  To crown it all it was announced over the radio on my way home that unconfirmed reports of Michael Jackson's death were coming in – can you believe they broadcast “unconfirmed reports” of anybody's death? So I don't know where I was when I heard he was dead, only where I was when the rumours started.

That outing gave us both an excuse not to run Slieve Donard on Friday night, but no such get out for Liam Keenan, who could almost be classed as a regular as he set out on his second attempt at this most gruelling of challenges, a mere 30 years after his first.  In spite of the recent spell of sunny weather the top half of the mountain was shrouded in cloud as the race began and dropped even further as the string of runners wound their way up the Black Stairs.  Visibility was even worse on the descent and made spectating, which you know I'm not cut out for anyway, very difficult even with the aid of binoculars – though I'm sure it didn't help the runners either! Anyway Liam returned to the Finish in a time of 81 minutes, a minute faster than his previous effort and one which prompted him to contemplate having another go at it – in another 30 years time!  Well Done to all who completed the race.

Of course his efforts gave him the perfectly justifiable excuse to miss out the tough little race that is the Loughinisland 5 the following day, and in the event 4 East Down runners took to the sun kissed roads on Saturday after noon. Whether it was in mourning for the now confirmed death of the troubled Jackson or the Lions vs. South Africa Rugby Test on TV the field was a disappointingly small 44, though there was certainly quality on display and some encouraging performances to boot.

The race was won by Larne's James Brown in 28.56 form Armagh's Malachy McAteer and Willowfield's Mervyn Chambers.  Stephen Shannon made a welcome return to racing as he fights a persistent injury and has to be pleased with 33.46, just edged out by Declan Teague (33.45) when he overshot the finish funnel. And Michael McKeown put in another stirling performance to record 34.02.  An eyecatching effort too from Barry Kelly, finishing 8th overall in a superb 31.34 with the promise of much more to come.

First Lady home was East Down's only entry in the category, Helen Murray in 37.24 as she takes up where she left off last year, now happily free of exams and can concentrate on normal activities.

And the James O'Hare story continues as he claimed yet another title, this time the Irish Junior 5,000 metres Championship at Tullamore in a time of 14.57.  Another superb effort.


28 June 2009