East Down at Comber Cup

East Down at Comber Cup

18 October 2017

THE big decision for runners last weekend was not so much what to wear, but where to wear it. 

The dilemma was caused by the unfortunate clash of dates which saw the GR8 Dundrum run pitched in direct conflict with the first round of the Cross Country League in Comber, exacerbated by the double whammy of both being right on our doorstep. 

The cross country was superbly hosted by Ballydrain Harriers at the Billy Neill Centre near Dundonald and proved to be an ideal setting, although underfoot conditions were soft in places and as the result of recent hedge removal, rough and uneven with cloying mud in others. 

However, after the early day drizzle had cleared away, the sun emerged and the air was unseasonably warm when the ladies and over 60 men’s race started.

This year, changes to the cross country rules mean that clubs could earn points for the number of finishers, up to a maximum of 16 per round as well as the award of place points, depending on the finishing places of the first four runners, all the way down to eighth place. 

So, the idea is for the smaller and perhaps weaker clubs to send up to16 runners to each round in order to retain an interest in the league throughout the season. So, the clash of the two major races in the same area affected many clubs’ ability to meet this target as some members chose to go to Dundrum rather than Comber.

And who can blame them? I was torn myself as the Murlough race is one of my favourites, but opted for the Comber event for a variety of reasons, but mainly because it is less painful to fall on grass than road, track or beach. In the event I didn’t fall at all, not for want of trying, though.

The East Down Ladies turned out a team of seven runners and they took a creditable fourth place in the team challenge, which in fact is the main focus of cross country running. 

The top four finishers from the club on Saturday were Catherine O’Connor (17th), Joanne Foster (20th), Aoife Cochrane (32nd), an excellent first outing from her after her recent graduation from the junior ranks, and Cheryl Denvir (35th). 

The other East Down runners who contributed valuable points were Clare Carson (65th), Alison (75th) and Ella Carroll (80th).

It was good to see Tom Dowey out and competing stoutly again in the over 60 category, his 69th place overall in a field of 139 finishers representing a splendid effort.

The 179 men who contested the Comber Cup race had to cope with not only the four gruelling laps, but also the increasingly difficult underfoot conditions, as a result of the hundreds of foot falls already administered during the earlier series of races. However, East Down’s seven, perhaps not yet magnificent, but working at it, nevertheless produced battling performances to take eighth place.  

Their top four runners were Martin Willcox (40th), a well judged run as he picked off many runners over the last three laps, Paul Burns (52nd), adopting similar tactics to Martin and always looking strong and in control, Barry Atkinson (61st), a tenacious effort in spite of him not finding conditions to his liking and Ciaran Denvir (68th), will come on a lot from this outing, his first for several weeks. 

The other point scorers were Stephen Heasley (94th), Gavin Hynds (105th) and Kieran McMahon (161st).  

It is anticipated that as the weeks progress between now and Christmas the East Down club will field the maximum number in all the remaining fixtures, in both the mens and women’s competitions. 

The value of getting runners out in depth is demonstrated by looking at the table from round one of the league where the top four ranked teams all scored an extra 16 points as did Ballydrain who finished in ninth place, out of the top eight scoring teams, but benefiting from the points per finisher rule, actually were awarded seven points more than the two teams who finished ahead of them and four more than Newcastle who were fifth team overall, but who equally suffered from lack of numbers to make up the difference.

Those who opted for Dundrum and Murlough on Saturday were not disappointed as conditions were reported as near perfect, resulting in several PBs. 

Dee Murray improved his 2016 time from 53.01 to 52.42, Declan Teague posted 56.06 and James Magennis was reportedly over the moon to clock 58.58, a significant psychological boost not only with the new PB, but ping below the 60 minute mark. 

But watch out James with all this dope testing going on it might be better not to draw too much attention to your lunar explorations, even if you’re explanation is that you were only out looking for a bovine bounder.

Luke McBratney came up with a commendable run in his first outing in club colours, crossing the line 61.15, while John Manley celebrated wife Lisa’s birthday with a 65.55 time. 

Gavin McConvey, another first time run under the East Down AC mantle, also celebrated his 78.06 time. 

The ladies, who will become aficionados of cross country running in the weeks ahead, were headed by Deirdre Weatherall whose 57.49 gave her third place in the female open category and 10th overall. 

Cathy Burke too broke the 70 minute barrier, recording 69.52 while Janine Murray 72.23, was more than happy to complete her first ever Dundrum GR8, despite suffering from a chest infection.  

Linda Cunningham (82.30) must have wondered why she had to finish at just over eight miles after starting when she was only beginning to warm up.

October marks the start of the cross country season and although some of the juniors had already tested their spikes in the first race of the McGrady Series three weeks  ago, this week provided not one, but three opportunities for a gallop in the muck.  The Flahavans Primary School Cross Country League kicked off on Tuesday at Dunleath playing fields – a familiar setting for the EDAC Juniors who were representing their various schools. 

Conditions were soft and treacherous so it took a lot of skill to negotiate the winding route. A big well done to Jodi Foster who came second overall out of 144 primary girls. 

Emily Burns (9th), Kari Foster and Ella Telford also took part. The boys’ race followed soon after and Oliver Robinson pushed all the way to the finish line finishing in second place out of 157. 

Callum Kent was hot on his heels in fourth. Alex Robinson, still only a P5 pupil like Kari earlier, bravely lined up despite being young for this event and both will have learned a lot from the experience.

The Billy Neill playing fields were the venue for the next event on Saturday morning. In the first event for primary school age, Jodi Foster had another fine second place and Callum Kent was sixth. 

Conditions were even worse than Tuesday and with hills added in to the mix, it was not an easy race. In the U-13 there was a trio of EDAC girls with Lauren Madine leading the way to take the win. 

Lucy Foster was fifth and Anna Gardiner was seventh. A credit to the club. By the time the U-18 event took to the start, the ground was well churned up and this age group had a longer distance to run (4k to be precise).  

Matthew McGrattan, Edie Carroll and Adam Morgan participated in this age group and were glad to finish upright and without injury.

Round  2 of the McGrady Financial Services XC Series took place in Kilbroney Forest Park less than 24 hours later. 

This was tough on the runners, but pity the mothers who had to get the spikes hosed and the muddy vests ready for the third time that week. Joanne Foster, with multiple kits to prep, might be thinking that swimming would have been a better sport for her troop to take up.

Anyway, a full report on this race will be posted later this week.

Suffice to say well done to the juniors for putting in your best efforts and to parents for transporting them to Rostrevor. 

The setting is idyllic and the going was good apart from the grass being a little on the long side and provided great racing. Commiserations to Malachy McGrady who had to pull out of the Year 11 boys’ race, when going well after he twisted his ankle badly on lap two.

Saturday brings us to the second running of the Red High 10k and 2 x 5k relay race at 12 noon from the school on the hill. Online entry is open until midnight tonight, at www.atleticsni.org  though entries will be taken on the day from 10am in the school.

As indicated a few weeks ago the Griddle Race will not be held this year, but so as not to disappoint the many loyal supporters and to perhaps appeal to the many ultra and often masochistically inclined runners in our midst, I’m toying with the idea of planning a Mother of All Griddles or Son of the Griddle 10k or similar, taking in all the famous and notorious hills in and around Downpatrick.

If it goes ahead it will be on Griddle Sunday, December 3, and if nothing else it would prove the oft repeated moan to me that ‘your races are always full of hills’ so serve you right for complaining. Watch this space.