Melville sets pace and holds on for glory

2 September 2015

ON Friday night I discovered the best place to run a race, at the front.

I can’t figure out why I hadn’t stumbled across this self evident truth years ago. As I watched from the comfort of the lead car, it became crystal clear that, having a clear road ahead of you and opposition trailing in your wake, is the best tactic anyone could adopt in pursuit of winners’ glory. Not only does this result in picking up a prize, but also gives you first crack at the refreshments afterwards. And certainly when the race is the Killyleagh 5 Miles, it also means unrestricted viewing of the beautiful shoreline along Strangford Lough.

Putting this theory to the test, except perhaps for the sightseeing bit, was Newcastle’s Martin Melville who moved into the lead from the off and after a cautious opening mile checking out the opposition he gradually applied the pressure to ease into an unassailable lead, crossing the line in 27.39 ahead of club mate David McNeilly (28.04) with Ballydrain’s Ryan Andrews (28.16) taking third place.

A feature of Martin’s win was the concentration he applied to his task, working strongly up the hills and never looking back. A master class in front running, and one I hope to learn from, when I adopt the same tactics at an as yet unspecified venue, though probably somewhere in cloud cuckoo land.

Catherine O’Connor (30.26) made it two in a row for her, taking the ladies’ crown again with Newcastle’s Sinead Murtagh (32.11) in second place and Murlough’s Niamh O’Connell (34.25) in third.

Good performances from several of East Down’s juniors, now moving into the older ranks, were led by for the boys by James Smyth (30.27) and Daniel Atkinson (31.14) and the girls by Aoife Cochrane (36.58), a great run for her, and a subdued Laura Gardiner (39.12).

Happy too with new pbs were Alison Gilliland (35.39), Janine Murray (40.08), Tom McClean (38.27), Clare Forster (40.25), Alison Carroll (40.39), Roisin Gaffney (43.32) and Colm McNeill (45.13), on a night which proved ideal for running after earlier heavy rain had softened the underfoot conditions.

A sizeable contingent from Newcastle, all running superbly at present and the lovely folk from Ballydrain Harriers, the best supporting club in the country, combined with the promoting East Down club to push the total competitors to over 100 for the second year in a row, with the beneficiaries being the Down and Lisburn branch of the Alzheimers Society.

Edie Carroll followed up her success in last year’s secondary school race, this time over the new , longer and more testing route of just over 3k, with victory in 10.53 with Hannah Gilliland (11.07) improving with every outing in second place.

In the boys’ race over the same course and distance, last year’s winner, Owen Edwards from East Down, tried to make it a pillar to post success, but was eventually caught and overtaken by Willowfield’s Andrew Hagen who led his club to victory in the new Club Team Challenge and lifted the shield for the first time.

In the primary school event East Down’s Mackenzie Murray (4.20) fairly romped away with the race ahead of club mate Michael O’Connor (4.49) and combined with Abbie, Aston and Archie Ross to retain the schools’ trophy for Cedar IPS. This was also the race which saw Mackenzie’s sister Kelsey, also a pupil at Cedar make her debut along with Mia, Kiera and Lena Proctor-Amos for East Down/Legamaddy Primary School.

Thanks go to all who helped in any way, especially the PSNI officers who manned vital junctions, the marshals and all associated with the provision and serving of refreshments afterwards. While not indicative of the quality of a race, a cup of tea/coffee afterwards and the chance to tell your tale of glory or woe, or just meet some old and make some new friends, inevitably makes life a little sweeter.

On to Saturday morning and with the signs barely dried out from the night before it was time to hang them out to dry around the new route for the second Strangford Festival 10k.

I think the route is relatively flat, though it all depends on who its relations are, but as it’s County Down, where by tradition we don’t do flat, it’s about as good as it can be. Anyway for runners who don’t like hills I recommend the Mill Hill Mile, as there’s only one hill in it so it’s sure to please everyone.

With bright sunshine and some very welcome heat the race got under way outside the very welcoming and homely atmosphere of race headquarters at St Joseph’s Primary School and quickly developed into the same duel as last year.

Brendan Teer (33.48) eventually emerged victorious over fellow East Down man Barrie Atkinson (37.04), who it must be said is carrying a painful injury at present, in a repeat of last year’s top two, with Marc Butler (40.48) the third man home.

First lady to finish and in third place overall was the rapidly recovering Cathy McCourt (40.21) North Belfast Harriers. East Down’s ever improving Niamh Kellett was second lady home with last year’s winner Heather Kelly (45.29) Ballydrain Harriers in third.

The lovely Ciara Mageean, international star and Irish record holder, was the special and very welcome guest of honour, who not only fired the gun to start both the 10k and the 5k fun run, but then set off herself to complete the 10k run as part of her training regime, which hopefully will lead to Rio next year. We are indeed blessed at present to have runners of the calibre of Ciara and Kerry O’Flaherty in our midst.

A second to none spread of sandwiches, bananas, doughnuts, fruit drinks, tea, coffee and scones etc was served to all the runners and their supporters afterwards in the little school and a special word of thanks has to go to all who supplied and served up the fare.

Thanks also to the main sponsors, Jim Rodgers, proprietor of the Leprechaun Bar and Lounge in Portaferry, Technical Metals and the PSNI officers who attended. A special word for the school caretaker Sandra Hynds for her hospitality and good grace in the face of the invading hordes, and to school principal Laura Fitzsimons for putting the premises at the disposal of the race organisers.

The Shore 10k in Killough on Saturday, September 12, at 11am is the next East Down promoted event and deserves to be well supported if only because it is the home fixture for the ubiquitous Brendan Teer.

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