Castlewellan Christmas Cracker

With racing in December virtually wiped out and training severely restricted, it was time to run and on Tuesday, North Down were out. The thaw finally came just in time to enable Newcastle AC to bring down the curtain on the 2010 competitive season with the Castlewellan Christmas Cracker. The race is unique in many ways – it is run in pairs over approx 10 miles of very hilly (and this year very muddy) multi terrain, with usually differing routes, with the time of the second runner counting and with categories based on total age. North Down successes included 2nd overall by Francis Marsh and James Budde, 1st female pair by Julie Balmer and Ali Robinson and several category performances including 1st MU70 by Alex Donald and Darren McKee..

The race was won by local hill specialists Deon McNeilly and Eamon McCrickard. Canny pairs work to each others strengths and North Down had some canny pairs. Francis and James won the category prize for M70-79 and Alex and Darren won the MU70 one (open). Julie and Ali were first in the equivalent FU70 one. Second in the their category was Gary and Les (M110-119) and Lynne and Valerie (F80-89). Jill and Ange were 3rd F70-79.