20 September 2010
Weekend Races
Some people will do anything to save money but swimming the Narrows between Strangford and Portaferry rather than pay the £1 ferry fare would seem to be taking things to extremes. But then maybe extremes are what doing triathlons are all about. Certainly the weather played a considerable part in making sure that the 120 odd souls who plunged into the chilly waters on Saturday would stay wet and cold throughout the duration of the event, organised on behalf of the Ulster Cancer Foundation. After coming ashore in Portaferry, competitors had to pedal 26 miles around a 4 lap course, including once over Windmill Hill, before setting off on a 10K run.
Incredibly all survived to tell the tale, as although there was only one shower of rain it lasted for 2 hours and at one stage made the Lough look the drier option. Commendable performances from Mark Galloway who finished in 2 hours 38 minutes and Clarke Brown recording 3 hours on his first attempt at the three stage event. It also marked the return to competitive running of Brian Hamilton, who ran the 10K in 43.49 as part of a 3 man relay team, the first time for several months he was pain free.
Meantime several members were setting personal bests in the Dublin Half Marathon in Phoenix Park on Saturday morning, led home by Philip Vint in 1.25, a commendable effort as he picks up the threads of normality again following the recent death of his father. Gavin Oakes continues to carve the minutes off his time clocking 1.46 while Kim Surginor and Michael Degan both recorded 1.52 with Jackie Gilbride not far behind 0n 2.01. Later that afternoon Liam Keenan braved the wind and rain in Ormeau Park to record 18.18 in the N.I. Masters 5K Championships.
But the folks who went to Portaferry were not the only ones to cross the water to further their ambitions on the roads, as a contingent including Linda Cunningham, Frank and Bernice McCann and Denis McKay left on Friday morning for Newcastle upon Tyne and participation in the Great North Run. I have no details of their performances at the time of writing, either on or off the roads, and as they have not yet returned and as Down lost on Sunday afternoon, it could be a while before any credible reports emerge.
Experiencing equally unpleasant conditions was Elaine Burch who was participating in the Junior British and Irish Mountain Running Championships in Wicklow . The U16 girls ran 4700 metres with a climb of 234 metres starting and finishing at the upper lough at Glendalough. Elaine finished 15th - best of the Northern Ireland girls and should be in good shape come the cross country age group championships next month.
Next Saturday sees the top quality Bangor10K Road race take centre spot and a lrge number from the Club are expected to compete, while Sunday sees the first round of the McGrady Financial Services sponsored Junior Cross Country Series in the Spring Gardens in Castlewellan Forest Park starting at 1.30pm.
Joe Quinn
20 September 2010
