Downpatrick the perfect venue for championships

Downpatrick the perfect venue for championships

21 November 2018

SUNDAY’S Co Down 5K races in St. Patrick’s Square, Downpatrick, provided a spectacle of running in the county town of Down.

The races were over seven — and a bit — laps of a circuit starting at Downpatrick Library, down Market Street, turning left towards the St Patrick Centre, around the back of the bus station and back out on to Market Street to the start.

With three races for all abilities, each race narrowed down to three time slots — 30 minutes and over finishing time mostly for beginners, then 20-30 minutes for more seasoned runners and finally the Elite category under 20 minutess to crown Co Down’s 5km champion.

The event, now in its second year, goes from strength to strength with entries doubling on the day.

The action started off with the kids’ fun races with ages from as young as three to ten years being catered for and goodie bags and medals aplenty.

Next off was the 30minutes and over category. Tis race caters for runners who have just started their running journey and the smiles could be seen for miles as each lap they were cheered by family members and supporters.

The race was won in fine fashion by Sarah Murray (Island Runners) in 26 mins 49 secs, closely followed by Emma Gordon (Loughinisland) in 26 mins 50 secs with every runner collecting an impressive bespoke medal.

The second race was equally exciting with Barry Kelly looking to retain his title in the 20-30 mins category.

Barry, who has just completed the Dublin Marathon, runs out of the club Flying Horse Flyers club, who have a fine pedigree with their support for this local event unrivalled.

Barry and Nigel Greer (Dromore AC) had a fine battle for six of the seven laps but he finally broke the Dromore man in the final lap and pushed on, beating his winning time from last year in an impressively fast 18.55 to earn himself a definite push up to the elite category.

The ladies’ race was won by Lauren Madine in a fine time of 20 mins 28 secs. The 13 year-old showed fantastic judgement of pace and fairly romped to be the 20-30mins category female champion with a 100th win in a very short running career.

This girl surely has what it takes to be the district’s next Ciara Mageean — watch this space.

The highlight was who would be crowned Co Down 5km male and female champions on this fast, flat, lapped running course.

With the atmosphere unrivalled in the town centre, the elite athletes fed off the buzz from the crowd pushing their limits.

John Black (North Belfast Harriers) proved to be the worthy winner. He showed clever running craft, tucking in behind the early lead of Gerard Heaney (Acorns AC) but was pushed hard late on by the equally impressive Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) who travelled all the way from Letterkenny.

Black won with a sharp kick less than 300 metres from the finish after a pulsating battle over the last two laps in an amazing time of 15 mins 21 secs with Eoin second in 15 mins 24 secs and third place going to Steven McAlary (City of Derry Spartans).

The ladies’ race was equally exciting with former Commonwealth games athlete Kelly Neeley (City Of Lisburn) in the entry list and last year’s runner-up, Rachel Gibson (North Down AC), also vying for the title.

Rachel fairly meant business and led for five of the seven laps. However, the experienced Neeley took over and judged her effort to perfection, coming home in 17 mins 28 secs to take the win.

Gibson was the runner-up for second year in 17 mins 34 secs and her colleague, Sarah Grant (North Down AC) was third.

A lovely presentation at the steps of the St Patrick’s Centre for all winners and back to Murphy’s Bar for a fine spread of tea and refreshements where a raffle was held for the Run for Hollie Campaign.

Thirteen year-old Hollie Massey, a keen sports person who runs for North Down running club, has recently been diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and £115,000 needs to be raised to send her to Texas for the treatment she needs. 

The event was massively supported far and wide and thanks are extended to everyone for their support and generosity within Downpatrick and beyond.

While it would be unfair to mention names we’d like to thank all the background team at Tel’s Fitness who are such a community of liked-minded people and lastly to the runners who make this event the amazing success it was in 2018.