The penultimate races in this years ANI cross country league were competed for at Lurgan Pk on Saturday 20th. With double team points in play the races attracted large numbers to give clubs the maximum benefit going into the last cross country race of the season next week at Stormont.
A 2K lap around the picturesque park included grass, trail and wooded areas with some heavy ground during the middle section of each loop. The ladies race was over 3 laps and with North Down ladies lying in 3rd place in the league they had strong numbers out. Jodi Smith led the pack chasing Newcastle’s Shalene McMurray, who made her intentions clear from the start of the race, and eventually finished 5th. An outstanding result in such a high quality field. Making a return to cross country running was Melissa Eccles who finished in an excellent 19th. Valerie McDonough followed in 30th position with Sarah Benton in 50th place. Overall ND had 18 runners with the team finishing in 6th place.
The mens race was 6 laps of the now cut up and slippy loop. The club had 19 male runners with first home Dennis Scott in 22nd. Considering Dennis lost a shoe mid lap and stopped to put it on again and with the effects of Thursday night’s 5k in the legs, 22nd was a great result. Francis Marsh, who also ran on Thursday, was next in with 30th followed by Ben Caughers 37th and Jamie McMeechan 39th, another great performance following a sub 10 minute 3k in Armagh less than 48 hours earlier. James Budde 47th and Mark Weir, literally fighting all the way to the finish in 78th, completed the ND team scorers.
Well done to everyone that competed who all contribute to the team points. The ladies are not far off 2nd place in the league with the men a strong 4th so one final effort next Saturday at Stormont to finish off the cross country races for another season. Please contact our team captains, Helen Wyse or John McGarvey if you can run next Saturday.
Great to see North Down represented at the marshalling and other roles yet again with Davie Seaton, Brian Smith, Norman Lellyett, Tony Wall and John McGarvey urging our athletes on.
Stormont x country:
http://www.athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Stormont-Cross-Country
Full results:
http://www.athleticsni.org/download/files/Results2016%2DNIUlsterSeniorXCChamps%2Exls
Last one Standing Ultra event
At midday on Saturday the inaugural Last Man Standing event took place in the grounds of Castle Ward estate. The rules were to run a lap of 4.2 miles within an hour and at the hour mark start again. Failure to make the one hour deadline meant elimination. This process was to continue until the last man was standing at the start line, and he then had to complete a solo lap to win.
Donald Smith participated and managed 11 laps, 46 miles, before missing the cut. An excellent achievement and one which, in his own words, will make his next marathon seem easy.
http://www.nirunning.co.uk/LMS%20Result%202016-1.xls
Old Deer Park Half Marathon
On Sunday 21st Terry Eakin raced in London in the Old Deer Pk half marathon. For the second week in a row, after the Dune last week, Terry covered the 13.1 mile trip. On this occasion he yet again won the Over 60 category and finished comfortably within the top overall results. Well done Terry.
http://www.swifttiming.co.uk/cgi-bin/list_race_result.php?meet_event_id=980001