[Not a valid template]The Castle Park Relays may not be the most competitive event (sandwiched between Stormont and the Junior it couldn”t be) but its our promotion and we were chuffed to win the Open Mens event. James Budde, Francis Marsh, Simon Seaton and new boy Charlie Sanson all produced that extra 2 or 3 seconds that made all the difference and it was some initiation for Charlie. A youthful City of Lisburn team took the Open Womens race and North Belfast retained the Veteran Mens title. The Under 15 events went to City of Lisburn girls and North Down boys.
The mens race was a gun-to-tape affair with James opening and running the fastest 1 mile leg of 4.42 to take the lead. Not to be outdone Francis ran the fastest 2 mile leg with 10.23 and North Down were well clear. Simon held his ground on the second 2 mile leg with 11.16 and Charlie was in Roy of the Rovers territory. Out with the club for the first time on Monday, he was in the Senior team on Saturday in trail shoes and found himself in the lead on the glory leg. With the pack closing hungrily, he held it together beautifully to bring the team home with Annadale second and Newcastle third.
[Not a valid template]In the Womens race, Kerry Harty ran the fastest leg of 5.31 to put Newcastle in the lead with Lisburn 5 seconds back with Lyndsey Monteith. From then on it was Lisburn all the way with Caroline Brown and Rachel Gibson. Lagan Valley were second and Lisburn third. Lauren Scott, Kerry Iveston and heptathlete Katie Hewitt, her Saturday hurdles session already done, were 5th for North Down B with Lauren fastest in 6.03 while Debbie Matchett, Stephanie Hambling and Nicola Simpson were 6th for North Down A with Nicola fastest in 6.30.
The vets race was mix and match with one runner over 40, one over 50 and one over 55. North Belfast won with Paul Murphy, Davy Clarke and Eddie Burns, Eddie running the fastest leg in 5.24. Lagan Valley A were second and Ballydrain A third. North Down A were in the lead on the opening leg with 5.43 from Tony Wall and with 6.20 by Norman Lellyett and 7.10 by Hugh Young they were fourth. The B team of Marcus McAuley, Pat O”Driscoll and John Monaghan were seventh.
City of Lisburn were first U15 girls team from Willowfield and North Down with Emily Mills, Shakara McCausland and Zoe Magee, Emily running the fastest leg in 6.14. The North Down girls were Clare Scott, Suzanne Conlon and Leigh McWha. Darren Kelly, Mark Armstrong and Jack Kelly were first U15 boys with Mark fastest in 6.17.
[Not a valid template]Run in perfect conditions, there was a good atmosphere with much help from NIAF officials. With the Junior in a weeks time also in Castle Park, it made good preparation