Saturday was Juniors day - with the nearest races being the North West Championships in Gransha Hospital Grounds in Derry no-one from the senior ranks was going to travel that distance one week before Christmas with the joys of shopping to be had much closer to home. Well no-one that is except the indomitable Anne Sandford who puts us all to shame by taking part in races the length and breadth of the country every week. Not only that but with considerable distinction too as she claimed 13th place overall and took the Ladies Over 45 title in a highly competitive field.
But back to the Juniors. The McGrady Financial Services Junior cross country series moved to Donard Park for Round 4 of on a cold, windy, sleety Saturday morning which saw just 67 Boys and Girls brave the elements to provide some highly entertaining races. I can't think why there weren't more, though colds and flu accounted for several of the East Down squad.
The P4 and Under Boys saw Newcastle repeat the Delamont result with Rory Corrigan and Ronan McVeigh taking the first 2 places but Joe Black improved his last round placing by one to claim the Bronze medal with Emmett O'Donnell showing up well to take 6th place on his first outing. Emily Steele and Kitty McKinney had the Girls race to themselves before Andrew McGrattan claimed further East Down points in the P5 Boys race with a tremendous sprint finish to garb 3rd place despite being under the weather.
As at Delamont Eve Kenneally and Natasha Savage fought out a tremendous duel all the way to the line with Eve just prevailing by one second and this looks set to be one of the nail biters in the next 2 rounds. I feel I should apologise to little Maeve McKinney for directing her towards the finish so badly that she fell on one of the few graveled areas on the course, but to her credit and despite suffering from a cold she picked herself up to finish. Great fighting spirit and an example to all those who stayed at home.
In contrast Caoilin Quinn romped to a clear cut victory in the P6 Boys race and continues to impress. A welcome return to form saw Caoimhe Grace O'Donnell take the P6 Girls race in equally impressive style ahead of Newcastle's Kaira Cairns
The P7 Boys race was won in fine style by Tim Prenter whose motto seems to be “Veni, Vidi, Vici et Abii”, which you'll know means “I came, I saw, I conquered and I left”, as by the time prize giving came round he had – and who could blame him as several including Caoilin had done likewise such was the persuasive nature of the prevailing wind. On the positive side it's one way for me to get my hands on a medal and all the better that it was a Gold one. I looked up the Latin bit by the way as my memory doesn't go back that far.
Caolan Hawkins again followed Tim home, though much closer this time with Matthew McGrattan ousting Gabriel Corrigan from 3rd spot and Owen Edwards and Padraig Rogan both showing up strongly with improved runs in 5th and 6th. The P7 Girls was another Newcastle clean sweep with Sarah Dougherty winning again from Michaela Quinn and Marie Claire McVeigh. Where are all East Down's P7 Girls?
Year 8 Boys turned the tables slightly with Matthew Carrick dominating and Daniel Atkinson backing up well in second, a much improved performance ahead of Newcastle's third placed Jack Lenny. However East Down's problems with the P7Girls were mirrored exactly by Newcastle in the Year 8 Girls 2 lap event, which was won in assured style by Aoife Cochrane , with Laura green just holding off the fast finishing Jemma Black ahead of Emily Forte and Tara Findlay, now rightly ascribed to East Down. The Year 9 Boys race was eagerly awaited after the heroics of Delamont but was turned on its head from the off by Dillon Morgan's brave attempt to run the finish out of his opponents. Setting off at what seemed a suicidal pace he was clear by the top of the first hill and continued to lead for the next lap and three quarters. But behind him Jack Quinn and Daniel Molloy were gathering and whittled down his lead as the home straight beckoned. With timing to rival Lester Piggott's, Jack pounced as they came through the trees and Dillon was unable to respond. Daniel passed too but Dillon fought back to reduce the gap to a mere second at the line. What a race and what courage from Dillon who was a well beaten 7th in Delamont but exacted revenge on all but 2 of his conquerors that day. Marc Breteche took 4th place ahead of the strangely out of sorts Aidan Hawkins, winner in Delamont ,with James Magennis, Eoghan Knight and Matthew Dougherty completing the field.
The Year 9 Girls was another fascinating contest with East Down's Ellen Erskine biding her time to catch long time leader Laura Gardiner midway through the second lap to win comfortably with Newcastle's Eilis Doyle preventing an East Down clean sweep by getting the better of Amy Godfrey. East Down had no representatives in the Year 10 and above Girls contest, won in fine style by Anna Rogan from Ellen Finnegan and Aisling Pell but had a commendable second and third in the Boys equivalent which was dominated by Patrick Sheridan. Paddy Erskine ran his best race for a long time to keep the gap to18 seconds at the line and as so often appears to happen at that age he is suddenly a young man as is his battling clubmate Ewan Findlay in third.
A special word of commendation must go to all the competitors who braved the elements to compete – Well Done everyone and to Martina and her hard working and dedicated band a happy Christmas from all at East Down – see you in Castleward in January!
Thanks as ever go to McGrady Financial Services for their invaluable support for this series of races and to other sponsors who supply fruit and water for all competitors.
Joe Quinn
18 December 2011
