Malcolm Cup is big attraction

Malcolm Cup is big attraction

29 November 2023

ON Sunday morning athletics teams from all over Northern Ireland headed for the Malone Road to the Queen’s University playing fields for the next big race in the cross country season. 

The Malcolm Cup is one of the main events on the calendar and sees juniors and seniors competing around this flat, fast course. 

The first race of the day was the masters race, and with three one mile laps of the playing fields and in cold, damp conditions, East Down AC had a team of six runners competing. 

From the gun the pace was flat out as athletes jostled for positions before the first muddy climb. 

Neil Curran, who has been in good form as of late, pushed towards the front and slowly made his way through the pack. 

Neil crossed the line in sixth position in a time of 17:28. Paul Burns also started at a fast pace and with the sticky ground condition he pushed to the finish line in 19th spot in 18:41. 

Not too far behind in 21st position was Martin Willcox, who normally prefers a longer distance, and he broke the tape in 19:13.

Joe Napier was hot on Martin’s heels and ran a strong race to finish in 26th position in 19:30. 

Dee Murray was next in and as ever put in a strong performance in 33rd spot in 20:15. Wayne Giles brought the team home in 84th position in 27:15. 

After a number of junior races the ladies were up next; it was now raining and the ground was getting cut up. 

The five EDAC ladies stuck to their task with Aoife Cochrane coming home first in 23:40 with a strong run. 

Ella Carroll was the next red and yellow vest across in 25:30, before Janine Murray followed in 27:58 for 179th position. 

Alison Carroll, who always gives it her all when it comes to cross country, put in a determined performance to place in 198th spot in 29:34. 

Last lady in for EDAC was Aine Grant, who seems to be getting a taste for this cross country thing and finished in 228th position. 

The last race of the day was the Malcolm Cup senior men’s race. This was a four mile race and with the course getting more cut up this was going to be fast and furious with some steady foot work needed. 

East Down AC had two athletes in the main race, and up against some top runners Adam Withers tried to hang on to the blistering pace set by the lead pack. 

Adam crossed the line in 47th position in 26:13. 

Meanwhile, Adam Morgan dug deep and had a strong run finishing in 115th spot in 30:10.

A great day of running by all club members in some tricky conditions.