The first ANI league race of the season played out at Kilbroney Pk near Rostrevor on Saturday. With a full day of racing starting with the age group races which started with U10 and progressing to U18, and then the senior races it was anticipated a rough, cut up course. In reality the course remained firm and led to some great performances from North Down runners.
In the age group races, even age bands, we had successes and excellent performances including valuable learning about the nature of cross country running.
Niamh Fenlon and Hollie Massey were first off in the girls U12 and finished 6th and 9th, only 6 seconds apart. Oliver Smith was our only runner in the boys U12 and managed 28th and only 40 seconds behind the winner.
In the U14 girls Megan Briggs secured our first medal of the day with a 3rd place finish, virtually tied with 2nd in a competitive finish. Tara McDonough followed in 20th and an out of sorts Ellie Gordon 24th. Daniel Playfair enjoyed his debut in cross country running with a fine 33rd place in the boys U14, one of our “even” aged athletes who will benefit from the Uneven age band in a couple of weeks.
Murphy Miller led our girls U16 team with a fantastic 2nd place finish and made sure the ND girls claimed a team prize with Jessica Scott 25th, Caitlyn Turner 35th and her sister Alisha Turner 51st combining to finish 2nd team. Thomas Patterson had a great bash at the boys U16 completing in 15th, as did James McCaughey returning in 36th and John McNally less than a minute later in 62nd in a quality field.
Our only entrant in the girls U18 was Nia McNally who had a very creditable finish in 9th which is an indication of her dedication to her training. In the final age group race of the day Craig McMeechan fulfilled expectations with a win, albeit with a very tough battle with his rivals in 2nd and 3rd. This follows from Craig’s win last week in Dublin and is a reflection on his commitment to the sport. John Ewing had a successful debut in the cross country environment with a solid 31st place finish in the same race.
The senior ladies race included the male O60 where Davie Seaton, after preparing the course, marshalling, and then competing finished 2nd O70. Rachel Gibson headed our compliment of ND runners in the main event and made it home in 2nd place in a very competitive group including Northern Ireland international runners. Sarah Lindsay finished 16th and Valerie McDonough an excellent 19th in quality company. Sarah Benton 28th and Helen Byers 30th were next in. The ladies managed to get their full complement of runners for the league and with the strong positioning of the first 4 team counters took the team prize. Excellent start from the ladies to give them an early lead in the ANI league.
The vast majority of men gave themselves an uphill task, and that was despite the nasty climb on the course, by joining the race late – missing the start. So it was very commendable that Dennis Scott should battle his way through the field to finish 11th and Francis Marsh 15th. Ben Caughers, who thought he was the sole ND runner in the race on the start line, came in next in 21st followed by another late arrival, Jamie McMeechan in 32nd. Allegedly the team photograph was to blame for the late arrivals.
