North Down Win McConnell Shield

For the first time in the 75 year history of the event, North Down won the McConnell Shield 5 mile cross country event in Ballyclare taking a close victory by two points from Annadale Striders and St Malachy’s.  Niall Robinson disputed 3rd for 3 laps with Noel Collins before conceding but did enough to retain 4th place. Francis Marsh on the other hand speeded up on the 5th lap to take 5th and the M40 prize while Mark Weir, into his 2nd athletics career, ran steadily in 19th. Simon Seaton battled on after a very recent bout of flu for 24th with Jordan Stokes in 27th and Nick Arkensparr in 29th handily poised to cover any slip ups. North Down had 12 finishers in the race and another 10 in the 3 mile race for women and men over 60 – more than enough to take a womens’ team prize if there had been one. Stephanie Hambling in 6th had a couple of seconds at the end over Julie Balmer in 8th who impressed in her first cross country race. Jessica Craig, Debbie Matchett and Roberta Dornan all were well placed while with the men Fred Murdoch was 1st M65 and David Seaton 2nd M60.

Other club runners were Nicola Simpson, Jill Dowie, Ange Perrott and Pat O’Driscoll in the 3 mile race and Thomas Simpson, Tony Wall, Matthew McMullan, Simon Robinson, Paul Brown and Conor O’Boyle in the 5 mile race, Joe McAllister won over 5 miles from Paul Pollock and Kerry Harty won over 3 miles from Kelly McNeice. The course was very heavy near the river but basically in good condition and the race was promoted superbly by East Antrim Harriers.