In total contrast to last year's depth of Winter conditions, Saturday delivered almost perfect running conditions in Ormeau Park for the annual Seeley Cup race which incorporates the Northern Ireland 10KRoad Racing Championships. The Men's title was closely contested from the off with a group of 8 athletes including pre-race favourites Andrew Ledwith Armagh AC and Mark Christie, Mullingar Harriers and the Annadale trio of Paddy Hamilton, Andrew Agnew and Eddie McGinley stride for stride at the end of the first lap. East Down's Brendan Teer was close behind in a second group of 6 and looking comfortable. By the end of the second lap Ledwith was clear but being pursued resolutely by Hamilton though Christie's chance appeared to have gone. The chasing pack was strung out but only Agnew and Letterkenny's Patrick Brennan would have been holding out hope of closing the gap. But the leading trio were not to be overtaken though only one second separated Ledwith in first place from Hamilton at the line, due to a misdirection in the Park, with a further 7 seconds to 3rd placed Christie. The fourth and fifth placed runners were 41 seconds ahead of the next group. Shane Kerr in 7th to the evergreen Paul Rowan in 15th place were separated by only 37 seconds with Brendan Teer occupying 14th place, 76 seconds faster and 15 places up on last year's result.
Liam Venney knocked 46 seconds off last year's time to take 30th place in 34.08 and Liam Keenan also improved last year's time by 20 seconds in 37.19. Mark McDowell completed the Club's team scoring quartet, also posting a PB of 39.02. Michael McKeown on 42.22 was just 5 seconds slower than last year but Gavin Oakes improved his time by almost 2 minutes while Denis McKay fairly flew round, looking strong all the way and knocked over 6 minutes off his previous best, recording 45.49 to banish the Dublin blues.
However the “most improved performance” title has to go to John Oakes who carved a massive 7 minutes off last year's time, coming home in 56.33 and seeming to enjoy every minute of the race. Well done to him and to all the locals who posted Pbs.
BABY BOOM
A notable feature of the race was the performance of Letterkenny's Gary Crossan who finished 39th in 34.50 having pushed his recently arrived baby all the way round in a buggy. Initially it seemed to be in support of the child's mother and Gary's partner Maria McCambridge one of the favourites for the Ladies title, who dropped out after the first lap. Could this be the answer to my problems? Anyone got a buggy and a baby who needs some fresh air?
LADIES DAY
The Ladies crown went to Dundrum South Dublin's Hazel Murphy from Dromore's fast finishing Julie Turley and North Belfast's fancied Gladys Ganiel-O'Neill. And not to let the men have all the glory Tracey McDowell shaved 2 minutes off her previous best to add to her sub 4 in Dublin and Oonagh Breteche also took 2 minutes off her best, evidence if it was needed that marathon training can help improve your 10K times. Jackie Gilbride too showed no signs of jet lag after her splendid New York marathon run and gave with an assured performance as she contemplates her next asault on the classic distance.
SUNDAY at DELAMONT.
The continuing good weather was welcomed by the juniors of both East Down and Newcastle on Sunday when they resumed rivalry in the grounds of Delamont Estate in round 3 of the McGrady Financial Services Cross Country Series. Almost 100 boys and girls turned out in a series of age group races in which the high level of sportsmanship displayed is an outstanding feature.
Making an eyecatching impact on his debut run was Joe Black, in the P4 and Under Boys race, showing great promise and fighting spirit as he only missed out on a Bronze medal by one second – but he'll be back! The first point scorer for East Down was Lucy Morgan who took second place in the P4 Girls race with Andrew McGrattan filling the same spot in the P5 Boys contest and only missing out on Gold, having to give way to the sustained speed of the talented Connor Murray in a stirring sprint finish.
Newcastle's Eve Kenneally, fresh from her front page appearances last week, again took first place in the P5 Girls race but came under considerable pressure from the East Down duo of Natasha Savage and Grace Surginor who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, and with just 2 seconds separating all three this will be a contest to look out for in the coming rounds.
CAOILIN and ELLEN PERFECT COUPLE
The P6 Boys race saw a runaway victory for Caoilin Quinn who led from start to finish as he returned to top form. Adam Morgan as usual battled all the way and took 6th place in the same race. Ellen Boyd repeated that performance in the P6 Girls race, running strongly throughout though Paulette Rice was unable to catch the Newcastle pairing of Eabha Campbell and Kaira Cairns finishing a close fourth. Sophie Mallon-Rooney battled well for 8th place and will improve from the experience.
TIM in CHARGE
Tim Prenter demonstrated his growing experience with a classic display of front running in the P7 race and never looked in danger but Newcastle's Caolan Hawkins and Gabriel Corrigan fought out a battle for 2nd place all the way to the line after they had seen off the challenge of East Down's Matthew McGrattan and Johnny Erskine. Ben McMeekin and Padraig Rogan in 7th and 9th places made up the EDAC quintet. Strangely East Down had no runners in the P7 Girls race in which Newcastle's Sarah Dougherty was an impressive winner.
The opposite was almost true in the Year 8 Boys race with Ross McCrickard being the sole Newcastle representative in the field which was led all the way by Matthew Carrick with Paul McMeekin, Daniel Atkinson Adam Bell packing well behind for East Down and Edward Boyd taking 6th place behind Ross.
Year 8 Girls were led home by Olivia Mooney from Laura Green and Aoife Cochrane as East Down made a clean sweep of the podium positions in what was the biggest field of the day and were ably supported by Eimear Connor, Jemma Black, Emily Forte and Elisha Surginor. All of these girls are improving rapidly as they learn to pace themselves to finish strong.
MARC a REVELATION
Year 9 Boys provided the most enthralling race of the day however as a group of five athletes comprising Aidan Hawkins, Jack Quinn, Daniel Molloy and James Maginnis from Newcastle and Marc Breteche from East Down formed at the head of affairs. The group ran together for 2 laps before James was forced to yield but the remaining quartet were still locked in battle with 200 metres to go. And then Aidan made his move followed by Daniel but with Marc waiting to pounce. And so they continued though Aidan had stolen a 2 metre lead as the cheers rose to encourage greater effort. Marc responded to Daniel's kick and inched past as the finish line approached. But Aidan had the victory his courage deserved while Marc was a revelation. Daniel finished third with Jack a close up fourth. At the line just 7 seconds covered the four and the ovation for all could be heard in Downpatrick. I can't wait for the next round scheduled for Saturday 17 December. Dillon Morgan fought hard in his group a little further back and took 7th spot.
Laura Gardiner dominated proceedings in the Girls equivalent to win comfortably ahead of three newcastle girls with Lucy Prenter in 5th place.
The Year 10 and above races were comprehensively won by Newcastle with Patrick Sheridan, Niall Rogan and Conor Jones accounting for Ethan Branniff, Sean Murphy and Niall Morgan in the Boys while Dearbhla Magee and Anna Rogan took the top two places ahead of Katie Maguire, Molly Rice and Alex Bell for the Girls. But everybody could be proud of their efforts and for giving parents and friends a very enjoyable afternoon of sport.
GRIDDLE 10K
Next weekend is the Griddle 10K and Fun Run at 12.00 noon from Saul GAC and a big turnout is expected from all the local clubs. If you're not running why not come and cheer the runners or perhaps lend a hand with marshalling.
Joe Quinn
21 November 2011
