Dale Murray wins Portaferry 10 Mile Run, 18/07/23

The ever popular annual Portaferry Gala week attracts visitors from all over the peninsula and beyond to musical events, Irish and Scottish dancing, art exhibitions, a dog show, wine tasting, talent shows and even a tractor run, however the biggest attraction for most North Down AC members remains the 10 mile run. 26 club runners lined up at the start of the race outside the leisure centre in cooler temperatures than recent years on Tuesday 18th July to tackle the loop through the town and along the rolling coastal and country roads back to a finish in the square in the centre of Portaferry. First of the club members to finish was race winner, Dale Murray in 54:56. Declan Magee also finished inside the hour in 13th position in 59:10 followed by David McKeague 1:00:44, David Massey 1:02:24, Andy Lowry 1:02:50, Alasdair Mair 1:03:03, Eamonn O’Reilly 1:05:57, Philip Mulligan 1:06:23 and Alan Massey ,a late switcher from the 5 mile relay to the full 10 miles, in 1:07:37. Clair Quigley was the next club member to join the prizewinners as 3rd female in 1:08:11. Sarah Gibson followed in 1:08:32 as 1st F50. Andrew Muir was next to finish in 1:11;24 ahead of Brian Geddis 1:11:57, Keith Gilmore 1:13:48, Valerie McDonough 1:14:35, Helen Byers 1:15:07 and Philip McDonough 1:15:17. Donald Smith crossed the line in 1:16:36 closely followed by Kevin Mulligan 1:16:58, Gerry O’Boyle 1:17:41 and John Ferguson 1:21:57. Paula Simpson was 1st F55 in 1:23:19 followed by the relay combination of Joanne Kelly and Frank Rea in 1:23:53. Jill Connolly dropped down from ultramarathon distances to a mere 10 miles and finished in 1:30:35 before the oldest competitor in the race and winer of the M75 category, Pat O’Driscoll, rounded off North Down involvement, arriving back in the square in 1:47:52.

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Here’s a selection of event photos:

[The NDAC runners who finished their warm ups quickly enough to make the team photo!]]