In the first local attempt at a BMC type paced meeting, the weather forecast was dire but the reality was that conditions were good. The entry from the younger age groups was disappointing but there were few, if any, complaints about the quality of the faster races. Not from North Down where James Budde and John Carlisle had significant pbs, John Saulters ran well in his first outing for 18 months over 2 laps and Zara Jones also had a big pb.
Zara went off in the first race and with her previous pb over 3:10, she was well inside with 3:05.16. Emily Heyburn went next with 2:49.10, about a second or so outside her best. Lauren Scott was running 2:26 earlier this season but she is not in that sort of shape at the moment and was satisfied with her 2:31.76. Niall Robinson also missed his pb by a couple of seconds, misjudging the pace and finishing too fresh.
Step up John Carlisle who made no mistakes and cutting loose at the 200m mark finished first in 2:05.60, well inside his former best of 2:08.12. Sorted. John Saulters was another who finished first. After making the pace and leading from gun to tape, he stopped the clock in a satisfying 1:59.99, only for Pat O’Driscoll on the photofinish to round it down to an infuriating 2.00.01
After working all day in the Dublin area, James Budde arrived just in time for the last race. James ran 1:58.9 last year in the Royal Hospitals race but was only 2:01.0 in his outing at the last River Rock this season. This sort of race was ideal and he finished in 1:57.71
The meeting had been short and sharp and well worthwhile.