On Wednesday evening record numbers of athletes took part in the Race Round the River which this year also included a 3K race. With the lovely spring sunshine quality runs were anticipated and North Down athletes didn’t fail to impress.
The 3K race had 4 ND runners out of the 73 entrants. Jessica Craig was first home and 3rd female in 10:07 followed by Thomas Patterson in 10:23. John McNally was next in and took with it 2nd in the U15 category running 11:10 with his sister Nia finishing in 11:50.
In the 5K event 708 runners took to the embankment for what was to be a race littered with PB’s. Perhaps this was due to the nowadays familiar calling of “This is not a race, but a timed event” being reversed. Having run 15:21 over 3 miles in Dublin at the weekend Craig McMeechan knew a similar time would place him high up the field. In the end he finished in 15:14 and 8th position, winning the U19 junior category and placing himself in the mix of quality Northern Ireland runners. Dennis Scott ran an excellent race to finish frustratingly outside the sub 16 minute time with 16:01, surely not long until he breaks the barrier. Francis Marsh was reliably next in on 16:22 and taking with it the M50 win while Ben Caughers pb’d with a very strong 16:30. First 4 athletes in the top 41.
Gareth Watton 17:18 and Darren Hamilton 17:28 were next in finishing within 4 places of each other, followed by Nick Irvine running well to take 17:40 and then our first female, Rachel Gibson returned in 17:52 which also won her 3rd overall female. Rachel proved to be the catalyst in the ladies winning the team event with Jodi Smith finishing 10 seconds later, and wishing it was 7 seconds, in 18:02. Eamonn O’Reilly improved his pb dramatically to finish in 18:10 before Katie Moore crossed the line clocking 18:56.
Colin Walker, in training for this weekend’s London marathon, managed 19:04 as part of his taper, closely followed by ND newcomer Sarah Lindsay in19:07 showing how much of an asset she will be to the club. 3 of our males were next in finishing within 4 secs of each other, Philip Mulligan ecstatic with his 19:30, David McMeechan 19:33 and Alan Massey 19:34.
Marathon specialist Robert Martin, also preparing for his next venture in Dusseldorf, ran a steady 20:10 with Joanne Moran coming agonisingly close to coming under 22 min with 22:01. Helen Byers 22:24 and John McGarvey 22:34, ten seconds apart but 13 places separating them was an indication of the build up approaching the finish line. Marie Devine completed the circuit in 24:14 with a pb coming from Gemma McAnirn in 24:27 and Clare Smith following closely in 24:38. Paula Simpson 25:10 and Clare Russell 25:17 also finished closely with veteran Pat O’Driscoll 28:24 and Noreen McCausland 28:34 completing the North Down entry.
A very successful turnout from the club with not only the ladies taking the team prize but the men were 4th team, alongside the aforementioned individual prize winners. PB’s were abundant, undoubtedly more than what is mentioned above but well done to everyone concerned.
3K result:
https://www.championchipireland.com/cca/results/files/Queens%203k%20Result.xls
5K result:
https://www.championchipireland.com/cca/results/files/Queens%205km%20Result.xls