Teer unstoppable in Portaferry Gala race

29 July 2015

IT doesn’t seem like a year since the 2014 edition of the Portaferry Gala 10 Mile race and relay was severely affected by the fog which engulfed the peninsula and prevented many runners from getting to the venue.

Not so this year when over 330 runners descended on the Co Down village last Tuesday night and in ideal conditions proceeded to write a new chapter in the history of this great race.

The men’s race was a fascinating contest between former winner Brendan Teer – and the clock.

From the off the East Down man surged to the front and in addition to outstripping the two wheelchair athletes who had started a minute ahead, he set himself a new PB of 53.28, almost two and a half minutes quicker than last year’s winning time.

First lady home was Colette McCourt in 67.33 with Newcastle’s Sinead Murtagh (68.16) close behind

Apart from Brendan’s heroics at the front it was a case of PBs all round. Best was James Savage, who seventh overall and second in the over 35s in 62.25 in his first attempt at the distance.

Dee Murray (63.05) and Declan Teague (63.14) also nailed down PBs, as did Andrew Telford (65.43), Ciaran Denvir (67.18), Mark O’Connor (67.26), Gerard McAuley (68.03), Raymond Milligan (69.17), Gareth Kelly (75.09), Gavin Hynds (76.08), John Smith (78.41), Richard Gill (81.06) and all topped of by a superb run from George Kerr whose 81.44 was just two seconds short of 11 minutes faster than last year.

Gary Small (85.40) was equally pleased with his showing, as was John Findlay (86.26).

Last year the East Down ladies were conspicuous by their absence. It was quite the reverse this year with a sextet of Cheryl Denvir (76.58), Kerry Stanley (80.59), Wendy Findlay (87.49), Lisa Milligan (88.50), Janine Murray (89.29) and Mags Flynn (90.40) equalling the men in the PB stakes.

I too set a PB — that’s a pig;s breakfast, for those of you who might ask, the equivalent of a dog’s dinner in canine terms — for my car parking attendant role.

For a while I thought I had found my true vocation, if not in life then certainly in the running world, as I coaxed and cajoled drivers into spaces more suited to bikes than cars, until finally achieving total gridlock and leaving quickly for health and safety interests – my own mainly! However, most vehicles had left the area before midnight.

A cold, wet and windy Sunday morning greeted runners to Ballykinlar for the 3rd running of the BK10K, which also incuded a 5K fun run.

The weather was the major factor in a disappointing turnout for this charity supporting event that deserves much wider support from local athletics clubs, but nevertheless there was class in both the male and female races with Dromore AC providing the winners of both.

The winner was Micheal Stewart in 38.34, not you might say an earth shattering time, but given the conditions and the terrain it was a noteworthy effort, underlined by second placed James Savage’s time of 39.02, from a man whose normal clocking for the distance is around 35 minutes.

The most impressive run of the day came from East Down’s James Smyth, who certainly picked a tough one for his debut at the distance, and whose 40.04 was surely a sign of great things to come as he eases out of the junior ranks.

The first lady was Dromore’s high quality Gillian Burns (41.25) with City of Lisburn’s Diane Watson in second place.

The nominated charity to benefit this year is the Niamh McCluskey Brighter Future Fund.

Tonight is the popular RGU 10K and two-person relay race beginning at 7.30pm and then we’re into August. And what a month of local activity that will see on the running front.

On Monday, August 3 August Kilmore Rec FC and Crossgar Community Association present their five-mile race starting and finishing in the Monastery grounds.

The Darragh Cross 10K and fun run are on Thursday, August 13, at 7.30pm. The main race will be run over a new route and is a full 10K.

On Sunday, August 16, the second Bright Community 10K and 5k fun run, organised by Bright GFC and Rossglass County FC, takes place from Bright Community Hall on Ballynoe Rd Dowmpatrick.

On Friday, August 28, it’s the Killyleagh five-mile race at 7.30pm with junior races at 6.30 and a new Under 16 Club Team race for teams of four.

Entries for all four races will be on the day.

Saturday, August 29, is the date for the Strangford Festival 10K over a new route this year with a 5K fun run, both starting at 11am. Online entry at www.athleticsni.org and on the day.

All these events are organised in association with East Down AC and permitted by Athletics NI. Oh and the Leitrim five miles and fun run on Saturday, August 8, is always worth a visit. A 12pm start from Fontenoy Park means that participants are back by lunchtime for second to none refreshments afterwards. Not one to miss.

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