Carson displays his true grit

Carson displays his true grit

30 July 2025

AT the third day of the 123.ie National Juvenile Championships, Newcastle AC’s James Carson demonstrated true grit and determination in the Under-17 triple jump event.

Competing in challenging, hot weather conditions, at the renowned Tullamore Harriers Stadium, Carson got off to a difficult start, recording no jump on his first attempt. 

However, showing great composure and resilience, he regrouped and delivered consistent performances in his subsequent attempts, with a longest jump of 9.12m recorded. His efforts secured him a seventh place finish overall, in a highly competitive field.

Carson’s performance not only reflected his growing experience in national-level competitions, but also the strength Newcastle AC’s youth development programme. 

He has been an integral member of the Athletics NI Rising Stars squad for two years, and he approaches all events with a calm, controlled manner, knowing that everything is possible across all disciplines. 

With more opportunities ahead, this experience will undoubtedly serve as a valuable stepping stone in his athletic journey.

On and off the roads, the juniors of Newcastle AC continue to impress. Mid-July saw the return of the Born 2 Run Sea 2 Sky race — a local spectacle that brought thousands to the foot of the Mourne Mountains. 

Amidst the colourful crowd of competitors, it was the flashes of red and yellow from the Newcastle AC juniors that lit up the podium and featured prominently among the lead packs in both the 5 and 10K events.

Patrick McDaid, a familiar face at Sea 2 ,Sky and a consistent performer in the 5K, took on a new challenge this year, by stepping up to the 10K. 

With the course practically on his doorstep, he was no stranger to the demanding route, which twists through boggy terrain and steep climbs before descending to the promenade finish. 

His familiarity paid off, as he executed a controlled and confident race, leading from the front and making light work of the technical sections. 

He stormed down the final stretch, lined with cheering spectators. to take the win in a time of 36.38, over a minute ahead of second place.

In the 5K, 13 year-old Mary Houston made her debut at Born 2 Run. A dedicated participant of the club’s Mountain Monday sessions, Mary has been quietly improving her times week after week. 

Her commitment showed as she tackled the course with grit, attacking the long downhill sections and powering her way into the top three. 

She crossed the line in 21.30, securing an impressive third place finish, and was closely followed by Natalie Cotton, who delivered a strong performance 

to finish just 71 seconds behind in fourth.

The standout performance of the night arguably came from Donal McDaid, who clocked an incredible 22:00, placed 11th overall in the men’s race and finished between Houston and Cotton. 

His run was made even more remarkable by the fact that he had already completed a full day of training with Athletics NI’s StarTrack programme, which included both speed and endurance sessions. 

Several Newcastle AC juniors took part in Athletics NI’s StarTrack programme — a development initiative designed to introduce young athletes to a wide range of running, jumping, and throwing disciplines through fun, structured sessions. 

It also offers focused support for those who are already embedded on their athletic journey and, of course, builds friendships and camaraderie across different clubs.

This year, the Newry event took place at St Colman’s Sports Complex and spanned over three days. 

As part of the coaching team, Angela Kerr and Siobhan Grant offered their services and enthusiasm to the young athletes. 

Breaking down different event disciplines and providing tailored encouragement, they helped participants build confidence, develop new skills and embrace the spirit of athletics. The energy and commitment on display, from both coaches and athletes, set a brilliant tone for what would turn out to be a stand-out week for the club, both on the track and in competition.

The summer parkrun fun is keeping many of the Newcastle AC juniors in top shape, and even sparking some parkrun tourism along the way. 

Houston continues to impress, not only setting a new personal best of 22:23 at Castlewellan Parkrun, but remarkably, matching that exact time two weeks later on the occasion of her 50th run. 

With an additional 72 junior parkruns under her belt, Houston’s dedication is unquestionable. She was also recently spotted at Montalto Parkrun, in Ballynahinch, where she took home the first lady title in a time of 23:35.

Katie Walker has earned the reputation of being the queen of consistency, showing up week in and week out, regardless of the weather. 

While she naturally leans towards longer distances, she embraces the parkrun spirit wholeheartedly and never misses a Saturday morning by the lake.

Aoife Grant, winding down after a busy track and field season, has made parkrun her weekly social outing. 

Most recently, she claimed first in her age category at the newly established Newry Greenway Parkrun, taking advantage of its flatter terrain compared to the more undulating local routes.

Meanwhile, Donal McDaid continues his stellar form, grinding out three personal bests in three consecutive weeks and making July a month to remember.