Brian Wins His Own Trophy

[Not a valid template]Brian Smith ran away from the field to claim his own trophy in the  Spring Handicap for the Smith Shield on Saturday. The rest of the handicapping was pretty good with Norman Lellyett second and Conor O”Boyle leading the non-bus pass brigade in third. Roma McConville was first lady from Sarah Benton and Debbie Matchett. James Budde ran the fastest net time in 18:11 min with Alex Donald running 18:24 and Glen Willis 19:14 min. Fastest girl was Jessica Craig in 20:44 min net, well inside the course record except that the race was run in the opposite direction to normal. The race was followed by the presentation of the club awards for the recent cross country season.North Down athletes have run the Crawfordsburn trail hundreds of times but rarely if ever in a clockwise direction. It certainly eliminated any effects from course knowledge but at least was the same for all. The change in direction followed a safety review and was to minimise interference with a massive hospice walk along the coastal path  from Holywood to Bangor. Ironically it then ran into a Duke of Edinburgh Award walk from Bangor to Holywood.

To be fair to Brian he had not intended to take part but had been urged to do so by the Handicap Committee. To quote David Seaton it doesn”t happen in memorial races.

The club awards for the winter season were as follows