Rollercoaster run defies conditions

Rollercoaster run defies conditions

5 February 2014

THE Rollercoaster races at Downpatrick Racecourse had been blessed with unseasonably fine weather for the past four years.

But Mother Nature extracted full vengeance for these aberrations on Saturday when she threw everything at the competitors in what proved an unsuccessful attempt to deter them.

From P3 upwards the children turned out in numbers, 239 in total, to take on and beat the elements. Every one was a winner and deserve the highest praise for ignoring rain, sleet, and wind, ably backed up by gusts which blew some adults off their feet.

We are again indebted to Toals Bookmakers for their continued sponsorship of this event which enable children across the district to display their sporting talents in an eminently safe environment.

Winners of the P3 boys’ and girls’ races were Ryan Halpin of St. Patrick’s Saul and Jana Pobloth, of All Children’s IPS, Newcastle.

Jana’s big sister Mia completed a double by winning the P4/5 girls race for the second year in a row, ahead of Legamaddy’s Charlotte Green and Emily Duff from Lough View IPS.

Anna Gardiner led the East Down girls home in this race taking a fine 8th place as she recovers from a nasty facial injury and Neva Louden, Molly Higgins, Niamh McGrath and Imogen Anderson all showing great spirit.

All Children’s IPS fielded the biggest squad of the day and were rewarded with a third victory, courtesy of Eve Kenneally in the P6/7 girls’ race as well as filling six of the top seven places in Jana’s race.

Our thanks and Congratulations to them.

Cedar’s Mackenzie Murray stormed to victory in the P4/5 boys’ race ahead of Beechmount’s Christoir Browne and Lough View’s Zac McMullan. East Down’s Michael O’Connor 10th and Jamie McDowell 17th showed up well and are making good progress.

The P6/7 girls’ race over an energy sapping kilometre distance, virtually a half circuit of the race track, was won by All Children’s IPS Eve Kenneally with Libby Maloney from Cedar in second, improving one place on last year and team-mate Orla Curry in third. With Dearbla Curry in ninth and Abbie Ross 11th, Cedar once again took the girls’ team prize.

In the P6/7 boys’ race Kilmaine’s Jakob Swann gained compensation for last year’s runner-up place when he won a hotly contested duel from Lough View’s Oran Magee and Brooklands Dylan McBride.

However, Oran’s second place together with Glenn Johnston fourth, Mason McClintock sixth and Cormac McConvey 11th clinched the team prize for Lough View.

Andrew McGrattan had no reason to be disappointed with his ninth place in this race following victories in the past two years in the lower age groups, with Oran Cunningham fifth , the best of the East Down contingent in this category, Jack Carson rapidly improving in 31st, James Byrne 35th Conor Findlay 38th and Christopher McMullan 45th.

The shield and trophies were later handed over to Lough View IPS principal Michael McKnight by East Down honorary life member John McKeag, who has generously sponsored the trophies in both team events since their inception.

Adam Morgan was the only East Down boy to take on the 1.5K distance in the U-13 boys’ race and as usual showed no fear of either distance or conditions as he stuck gamely to his task. Would that more of his peer group showed more of his competitive attitude.

In the girls’ field Chloe Galloway took a fine third place behind a North  Down duo with Anna Lynn seventh.

In the boys’ U-15 race Owen Edwards was third behind Willowfield’s Desire Bamisile and Beechmount’s Peter Gracey and East Down runners filled the next five places.

Similarly, in the girls’ race, Beechmount’s Davicia Patterson led home Laura Green and Aoife Cochrane followed by five club mates, so a  very good effort by all the Junior East Down runners.

Last year in the absence of Brendan Teer, David McNeilly took the top prize ahead of his team-mate David O’ Flaherty in third, but this year with Teer dominating at the head of affairs the two Davids battled it out for silver and bronze positions with O’Flaherty turning the tables to take second ahead of McNeilly.

Both looked none the worse from their team winning performances in Lurgan last weekend, a win which is a real shot in the arm for local athletics.

Given the conditions Teer’s winning time of 16.38 was quite remarkable.

Over 35 winner was Martin Wilcox with Michael McKnight following the example of his pupils earlier to lift the over 45 prize and Norman Mawhinney adding to

Ballydrain Harriers growing comeback with the the Over 55 prize to supplement Ryan Andrews claiming the first U-20 place for the second year in a row.

Just a week earlier while we were enjoying the mud in Lurgan, Brendan Teer was clocking 25.44 for the Raheny 5 Mile race in Dublin to take  12th place in a high quality field of over 2,000 runners.

Liam Keenan also ran and shows no sign of slowing down as he recorded 31.01, but indicative of the quality in that he still finished outside the top 200. Well Done to both.

In the ladies’ race a new name was added to the winners’ list with a dominant Gerrie Short from Beechmount coming home in fine style ahead of a sparkling debut run over the distance from  East Down junior Laura Gardiner with the ever competitive Ruth Magill from Lagan Valley AC in third.

Lisa Milligan and Wendy Findlay from the host club picked up the over 35 and over 45 prizes respectively.