Successful Senior Championships

[Not a valid template]North Down athletes had a very successful time at the Northern Ireland and Ulster Senior Championships in Antrim on Saturday, an event included in the UK Challenge Series. Despite the presence of many cross channel and cross border athletes, they came away with two gold medals, ten silver and five bronze and had 25 finalists. It was mainly a pleasant sunny day but strong blustery winds again caused problems. Eva Massey and Peter Glass were the champions, Eva again retaining her shot putt title and Peter just edging clubmate Tom Reynolds into second in the 110m hurdles after three faulty starts.

Peter was also third in the long jump in a pb of 6.86m ahead of Philip Browne in fourth. Jeremy Harper was second in discus and shot as was Katie Hewitt in short and long hurdles. Amy Foster was second to a South African visitor, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, at 100m, Hannah Lewis third at 200m to cross border athletes. Hannah ran 24.83 in winning her heat but her 24.48 sec in the final was too windy. Other seconds came from Ben Reynolds at high jump, Kenny Elliott at 400m hurdles and John Saulters at 400m while Michael McConkeywas second at javelin and third at discus.

One of the outstanding results was Mark Patterson’s third in the 1500m, his secondary event and in his first Senior Championships. Strong winds spoiled his hope of a sub 4 minute time but 4:00.34 min was a pb. Gemma McAnirn lived dangerously  in the discus, admittedly after a wisdom tooth removal, and had four no throws before pushing clubmate Melissa Free out of the bronze medal in the fifth.

 Club results