Just after the Christmas crackers but before the Christmas Cracker came the Burren Townland 12 Mile race on Boxing Day which turned out to be a real cracker of a different kind. After the gentle slopes of Rathlin, Tollymore and the Griddle, Declan Teague concluded that Burren don't do flat nearly as well as we do. Nevertheless he coped admirably with the undulating terrain to claim a magnificent 4th place in 84.38, having shadowed the leaders throughout and harboured hopes of an even higher placing until Everest appeared at 10 and a half miles. But his verdict was Highly Recommended and he'll be back next year so well done to Burren AC for a well organised and enjoyable event.
The next day was Christmas Cracker Day. The uniqueness of the Cracker race is that it has to be run in pairs so all anyone has to do to take part is grab a partner, pay the entry fee and run. Some people had to be reminded that in this instance partners are just for Christmas not for life, a fact which was met with equal amounts of joy and despair. Anyway having resisted the temptation to enter the run I set off on what Marty McVeigh said was the 6 Mile walk. Now Marty's an honest guy but in terms of distance he's generous to a fault because after I had tramped for 6 miles, or so it seemed, I still had 2 to do, including the climb and descent of Slievenaslat, and it took me 2 hours to get round. The great thing about walking instead of running is that you can pick your steps through the muddy patches and keep your feet dry – at least that's the theory. The reality is that you get to watch your feet disappearing in front of you while your shoes fill with goo and Marty becomes the first name to be stroked off your Christmas card list. In fairness though it was a great course this year, runnable and fast, if you could run and were fast, though slippery on the steep descents even if there was neither frost nor snow this year. It was also well marked with coloured direction arrows sprayed generously on everything that didn't move. They say the view from the top of Slievenaslat is spectacular but I'm only taking others words for that as it's difficult to see over the treetops when your on your hands and knees.
Anyway I was back in time to miss the start of the running version but was pleased to see East Down's fancied pairing of Liam Venney and Brendan Teer in the leading group with Newcastle's McKibben twins and Newry City Runners Dale Mathers and Don Travers when the runners came back into Castlewellan again. Unusually though Deon McNeilly and Eamon McCrickard the pre-race favourites were further back in the second group though not yet without hope of retaining their title.
I hastened to the point along the lake shore to where the route takes a sharp turn up through the trees, armed with Marty's tin of marker paint as I reckoned it was the one point where fast or tired runners might make a mistake – I had almost missed the ground painted direction arrows while walking, mainly because the earlier passage of numerous feet, buggies and bikes had started to erase the paint and could have resulted ultimately in everyone missing the turn and subsequently the view from the top. So never one to spoil anyone's fun I re-sprayed the arrows and stationed myself astride the path in a “Thou shalt not Pass” stance. I was just interfering again but wanted to feel useful – and to see grown ups cry.
Soon after that the leaders appeared and I know by their comments how grateful they were as I pointed them upwards away from the chilling lake breeze. It wasn't long though before I came to the conclusion that marshaling can have a corrupting influence even on an honest, virtuous person like myself. It turns one into a barefaced liar and conman – “Yes this is the last hill” and “You're going really well” - and puts pressure on ones integrity as tired stragglers plead to be allowed to keep straight on. However none agreed to meet my price for doing so – as runners are notorious for not carrying folding money I'm not sure I'd have taken an IOU anyway – but the temptation to even suggest a bribe showed the extent of my decline.
Another side effect of marshaling on me is temporary memory loss. Faced with onrushing groups of runners, many of whom I know well, my mind goes blank and I can only recall the names when they are some 30 metres past my position, resulting in the transfer of their names to the next group, and so on. I call this use of all the correct names but not necessarily in the correct order the Morecambe and Wise syndrome – or perhaps it's an age thing? Someone suggested that it would work itself out if I should stand 30 metres further along the route!
I even thought I saw Paul Rodgers go by but put that down to hallucination. Anyway apologies to anyone who was called by a name other than that legally conferred on them.
East Down had 12 pairs this year out of a record entry of 191 teams and I am proud to report that Liam Venney and Brendan Teer came home clear of the 189 finishing duets in 62.12. Brendan was half of the winning duo 3 years ago accompanied by Deon McNeilly but this was the first ever full team victory for the Club. Liam in fact led the way almost from the start and finished like he could have done another lap. Deon and Eamon finished a creditable 7th and I have no doubt they'll be back.
Philip Vint and Mark McDowell were the next to finish for the County Town based club, 24th in 74.37 with Gavin Oakes and Michael McKeown following in 68th in 84.49. Just ahead of that duo the club mixers, Anne Sandford and Megan Wilson, took the Female Under 70 category in 84.05 – perhaps the club name should be East Castle girls? On the other hand Brian Hamilton looking resplendent in club colours almost got past unnoticed with Unattached partner Michael Hunter, on the way to clocking 86.09. How can you have an unattached partner? It's like running on your own in a 3 legged race.
And Paul Rodgers did appear in the results accompanied by Gary Kendall so I wasn't hallucinating after all.
Then the Club's first and only Mixed duo Cheryl Denvir and Peter Morgan weighed in with a splendid 89.59 while another half attached pair in the form of Michael Cultra and Mark Galloway
clocked 91.09. Then Francis Nugent and Gary McLaughlin masquerading in the results under Newcastle AC, recorded a handy 93.33. Is this designation a slip of the finger on the part of the registrar or an underhand attempt to coax Gary back to the Newcastle fold? You'd better put your bid in quick if you want him in the January transfer window, though he's officially not for sale.
Father and son duos Jim and Paddy Erskine and John and Ewan Findlay could be well pleased with 96.33 and 99.31 respectively with Lisa Milligan and John Manley making it look easy with 101.45. Colum Surginor, Denis McKay, James Magennis and Paul Rogan were more like a gang of four as only one second separated them at the line and Deirdre Mount and Emer Moore looked like it was a stroll in the park, certainly no indication that either was in need of a holiday.
The next local event is the Rollercoaster races at Downpatrick Racecourse on Saturday 28 January. Meantime a Happy New Year to runners, walkers and everyone who can still put one leg past the other – I look forward to be overtaken by you in 2012.
Of course 2012 is not only Olympic year but also the 25th anniversary of the founding of East Down Athletic Club which will be celebrated in style with a feast of Silver Jubilee events.
Joe Quinn Race Photos http://www.cathedralimages.com/
30 December 2011
