Unstoppable Anna grabs gold medal

Unstoppable Anna grabs gold medal

6 September 2023

ANNA Gardiner, still recovering from her race in Trinidad and Tabago, made the shorter trip to Cardiff recently for the Welsh U20 International.

Ten athletes were selected to represent NI and Ulster in one of the final international fixtures of the season.

This was one of the team’s best performances at the International with a total of six medals won.

Anna had a great race and won with a front-running performance, covering the 3,000 metres in 9:46.32 and finishing a great athletics season with a gold medal.

On Saturday morning East Down AC’s Caroline MacNabb and Roisin Gaffney were supporting a 5k run and walk organised by Downpatrick RGU in conjunction with Claire’s Coffee & Tea.

Proceeds were in aid of Motor Neurone disease. All taking part did a number of laps of of the perimeter of the RGU walking track and the went into the club rooms for a well deserved tea/coffee and cake. Great effort for a great cause.

Laganside 10K

Sunday afternoon saw the running of the Laganside 10k, hosted by North Belfast Harriers.

The course started and finished in Ormeau Park, taking in the Ravenhill Road and Albertbridge Road turning left on to the Lagan towpath towards the Ormeau Road.

The runners came out at the Ormeau Bridge and head back along the side of the river on the Ormeau Embankment to begin a second lap of the towpath, heading back into the park for the last 1000m.

This is a flat, fast course and with warm conditions with a head wind on the far towpath, some good times were on the cards.

A total of 755 runners took to the start line, including eight EDAC. Neil Curran hit the front looking for a quick time, but admitted going off too quickly in the heat and finished 15th in a time 35 min 26 sec.

Martin Willcox, after his strong run at Strangford, was looking for a better time on a flatter course and was pleased with his time of 37 min, 41 sec, knocking two minutes off last week’s time.

Caroline MacNabb, who has been in great form of late, was not sure how she would fare after her charity run the previous day.

She went out hard and came in third lady and 46th over all in a time of 38 min 10 sec — a great effort.

Dee Murray was next in and was happy to improve his time from last week, but admitted it was warm and hard work.

James Cuffey was the next EDAC vest to cross the line, and again will be happy with his time of 39 min 23 sec — better than last week.

Stalwart Declan Teague, who takes up any challenge, came home in 44 min 48 sec, Deirdre Weatherhall finished 198th in a time of 45 min 27 sec and like all the runners found the heat a little bit difficult.

EDACs last runner over the finish line was Laura Hardy, who has rejoined the club after being a junior some years ago, and remembers being coached by EDAC legend Jimmy Murray,.

She ran the Larne Coast Half Marathon last week and then came back to complete the Laganside 10k. Welcome back Laura. 

Next on the race list is Newcastle’s AC MIll Hill Mile which is always great for runners and supporters alike.