North Down hit the cross country jackpot at Stormont in the ChampionChip Junior/Intermediate/Masters Championships with a clean sweep of the team titles. Niall Robinson and Robin Brown were 1st and 3rd in the NI Junior Championship and along with Alex Donald, James Budde, Glen Willis and Thomas Simpson won the War Memorial Trophy for the first time. Lauren Scott won the Womens Intermediate Championship leading Julie Balmer, Debbie Matchett and Ali Robinson to a second succesive Championship in an event in which, as in the mens” Junior, the winners can no longer compete. Roberta Dornan was 2nd female Master leading Stephanie Hambling, Debbie Matchett and Ali Robinson to another title. No team medals available for the Mens 65+ race but David Seaton was 2nd and led Brian Smith, Norman Lellyett and Ken Hawtin to a notional win.
As well as a significant team victory, the Junior men provided the individual winner in Niall Robinson who added to his recent successes while Robin Brown had another medal in 3rd. Both formed part of a breakaway trio with the in-form Jarlath Falls of Ballymena. There was nothing in it until the 5th and last lap. Jarlath looked to have it when he broke away with Niall chasing. The gap was never enough though and it was Niall all the way in the final uphill
finish.. Alex Donald gained 3 places to 9th on the final lap and James Budde was steady in 14th as were 16 year old Glen Willis in 20th and Thomas Simpson in 24th. Darren McKee provide useful cover in 30th and the squad was completed by Nick Irvine and John McGarvey.
In the Mens Masters Championship, Mark Weir was first club scorer and wins an NIMAA medal as 2nd M35. Douglas Grant, Terry Eakin and Stephen Purdie completed the scoring four with Terry 1st M60. Gary Swenarton and Pat O’Driscoll also competed. In the separate M65+ event, David Seaton and Brian Smith were 2nd and 3rd with Norman and Ken completing a team.
In a complicated affair scoring wise, the girls all ran together though there were 3 separate Championships – Masters (35+), Junior (under 20) and Intermediate which is basically everyone bar former winners and Senior Champions, team or individual. North Down won the Intermediates last year in Donegal leaving Jessica Craig and Nicola Simpson ineligible and Roberta and Stephanie only able to compete as masters. Lauren Scott and Julie Balmer did not run last year but two people therefore would have to score in 2 different categories, probably Debbie and Ali.
Defending Masters Champion Cathy McCourt went early with only Lauren going with her and Roberta about 20m back. Cathy and Lauren were together, though in different races, until the final lap when Cathy surged, keeping going to take the Masters Championship with Lauren next as Intermediate Champion folloed by Roberta as 2nd Master. Gillian Burns was next taking 3rd Master followed by 4 Intermediates and then came Stephanie as 4th Master and 1st F40. Julie, Debbie and Ali were less than 10 secs apart and were 13th, 14th and 16th Intermediate with Debbie and Ali also 13th and 14th in the Masters list. That was enough to win both Championships and Roma McConville was 24th Master and 1st F50. Complicated but job done.
The collection of so many different team titles by a single club is an unprecedented and probably unrepeatable occurrence.