2nd HANDICAP RUN
It has been quite a week. It started on Monday as they all do but with activity confined to an inspection of the course for Tuesday's Club Handicap run, the 2nd in the series of 4 planned for the Summer months. It appeared docile and timid at that time but I should have known that course designer and handicapper Declan Teague had no intention of making it an easy challenge. And so it proved on the next night as the twists and turns through the dunes and the energy sapping sand along the beach turned it into the Tyrella Tyrant. This was the race where those who had claimed points in the first round were seeking to add to their totals and those who had been run out of it were seeking to open their accounts. The handicapper had tweaked the allocated times to ensure a blanket finish – but it didn't quite work out like that. In deference to age, fitness and previous form I was sent off with Oonagh Cochrane, having her first crack at the format, with a variety of time advantages ranging from 6 to 24 minutes over the other 21 runners. Oonagh perhaps paid the price for a fairly nippy warm up lap and an even more aggressive start but nonetheless kept going over the challenging course to finish just outside the points in 11th place.
As for me, I just did a Forrest Gump and just kept running, though by the start of lap 3 it was stretching credibility to describe it s such. By this time my “good” leg had won the battle for parity of contempt with my “bad” one and I was performing a perfectly balanced limp. Pride is a very strong emotion which drove me on, sensing this would be my best chance to put some points on the board. The dreaded sound of fast approaching feet from behind never materialised however and I managed to stay upright to cross the finish stream clear of my former friends. Danny Flynn was next to finish, almost totally overturning his last result, with Oonagh Breteche proving the most consistent of all, taking 3rd place points to add to her 5th placing score in Round 1. She now moves into a threatening 2nd place on 14 points behind yours truly and first race winner Mags Straney, who failed to add to her total this time. However the warning is out that the handicapper has got the measure of the ringers, well one ringer to be exact, who strenuously denies any subterfuge, bribery or corruption allegations.
REAL RELAY
Nevertheless you would be excused for thinking that I would want to steer clear of any contact with the Hanging Judge between now and next round on 3 August, in the hope of leniency and to avoid too close an inspection of form. But no later than 6.50am the next day I joined the redoubtable Declan outside the Leisure Centre to welcome the Real Relay runners from Murlough AC as they completed Leg 197 of the Olympic Torch relay to raise money for a kids charity (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids – CHICKS).
The Endurancelife Real Relay is following the entire route of the official Olympic Torch around the British Isles in one continuous non-stop journey, running every step of the way. Starting out from Land’s End at midnight on Monday 28 May, ten days behind the official Olympic Torch, the Real Relay involves hundreds of runners from across the British Isles running through the day and night on an 8000 mile mission to reach London in time for the Olympic Games opening ceremony and thus achieve one of the greatest Olympic endeavours of all time. I understand that for a little bit of variety the runners who undertook the legs from Newry to Newcastle via Hilltown took a shortcut over the top of Slieve Donard!
And so at around 7.15am on a damp, cool, but relatively calm, morning we set off to complete the 198th leg to Saintfield carrying what resembled the Star Wars Light Sabre, affixed to which was some sort of tracking device. My intention prior to the handicap run the night before had been to run to Crossgar and let Declan carry on and my resolve was sorely tested as I struggled to maintain contact with him. But eventually Crossgar was in sight and more importantly, my car was awaiting. I gladly handed over the baton and Declan fairly flew the next 5 miles to the handover in Saintfield. And it was still barely 9 o'clock! I am somehow hoping that my performance and pleading will help mitigate the harshness of the handicapper's pen before the next round. What a memory participation in this ingenious event will provide for everyone who took part when the 2012 Olympics are being talked about.
HILL and DALE
On a Brutal Thursday night and it was Race 9 in the Hill and Dale series and again it was Martin Willcox, returning after missing the last 2 races who led the East Down quartet home, taking 30th place ahead of Barrie Atkinson and Gavin Oakes, 48th and 51st respectively and Michael Degan in 112th place.
AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday and Sunday saw action in the NI and Ulster Age Group Championships at Antrim Forum with Paddy and Ellen Erskine being the Club's sole representatives. Ellen performed tremendously well to pick up a Bonze medal in the Girls U/15 800 metre race just edged out of Silver by the judge's nod. She returned on Sunday to take a very creditable 6th in the 1500 metres. Paddy qualified for the Under 16 Boys 800 metres finishing 3rd in his heat before being pipped for the Bronze medal in the final by Newcastle's Patrick Sheridan in a time of 2.12.88, marginally slower than his heat time. Splendid running by the siblings and both have qualified for the All Ireland Championships in Tullamore next month. Meantime I had a quiet day at home on Saturday.
By the time you read this I will be suffering the heat of Southern France and wishing I was with you enjoying the balmy June temperatures here – but someone has to do it.
I'll be home in time for the Loughinisland 5 Miles on Wednesday 27th and you're reminded that this is a new flatter and faster course, so come along and enjoy. All entries taken on the night and there's also a Fun Run over about 4K, so there's something for everyone including me, in the shape of sandwiches and tea afterwards.
Joe Quinn
18 June 2012
