Wednesday evening saw the return of the popular “race around the river” at the Annadale embankment/Stranmillis embankment with the entrant numbers exceeding 1000. On the minus side, entrants no longer get a map of the route on the back of their t-shirts.
We shouldn’t complain about heavy showers coupled with clear blue skies at this time of year, we were all hoping the races coincided with the blue sky part, and the timing was perfect – just about!
The club had four runners in the 3k race, all juniors. Mac Eager and Alex Downey ran a close contest as they were awarded the same time, 10:59 which was 23rd and 24th place. Alex appeared to win the contest by a short head. Chloe Verner completed the 1.5 loop in 11:35, 38th and a matter of seconds later Conor Adair made it home in 11:40, 41st.
In contrast to the 3k race the 5k had 30 of our runners competing. Many of them were held over from the postponement two years ago as the pandemic struck. Craig McMeechan achieved a 2 second pb from his Armagh International race two years ago as he clocked 14:45 and 12th place. Jamie Smyth was placed 36th when he recorded 15:40, a significant improvement since his last appearance at this race four years ago.
Having previously had a best time over the 5000M distance of 16:06 Gareth Watton had ambitions of a sub 16 minute time at Queens. He will be chuffed with himself as he succeeded in completing the race in 15:50, well done and well deserved. Jamie McMeechan also had desires of a 15 minute something time and as the immediate results appeared and he showed 16 minutes dead, the next five minutes until the chip times were released felt like an age. Jamie was also happy as 15:59 was the official time.
Francis Marsh, having raced at the Titanic 3 days earlier, had a decent run to finish with 16:42 and Ricky Jordan wasn’t far behind as he pb’d in 16:44. Steven Donegan who is also in a rich vein of form slashed his previous best by finishing in 17:15 and was followed a short time later by Nick Irvine, 17:33. Next in was our first lady Rachel Gibson on 17:52 in the company of Jason McMinn 17:53. Alasdair Mair recorded 18:02 before the arrival of our second lady, Katie Moore, 18:09.
Aaron McAuley made it home in 18:39 and Tom Agnew was next in 19:11. Fiona McQuillan completed the circuit in 19:26, third ND lady, and one second later Stephen Wise was well placed in the age grade with 19:27. Clair Quigley accompanied young Hollie Massey around the course in an effort to join her with a sub 20 min time. Unfortunately Hollie was a shade shy finishing in 20:08, surely this barrier will be breached soon. Clair managed 19:56 and with it our fourth finisher which provided our ladies with a 3rd place team finish.
Another junior, Becka Laffin, had a great run to record 20:18 and Lindsay Doulton equalled her best for the distance 20:51 while Lisa Tomalin 21:07 and Paul Lynas 21:09 weren’t far apart. Donald Smith decided immediately after the race that he’d rather participate in an Ultra marathon than face the fast pace of a 5k road race. He did however record a decent time of 21:19, so he is no stranger to a pacey run. Julie Wilson continued her great running form as she crossed the line in 21:20 and a new member of the club, Stuart Anderson recorded a respectable 21:57.
Another one of our pedigree ultra marathon runners, Cara Jeffrey, enjoyed racing around the embankments and was rewarded with a time of 23:29. Nicola Downey managed a steady 24:28 and Lisa McMeechan, making a long awaited return to racing clocked 25:02.
Hannah Dunne was timed at 25:40 and Noreen McCausland completed in 35:08.
Congratulations to the ladies team who were 3rd placed team while the men finished in 5thplace.
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