Nearly three thousand runners attended the Run in the Dark in the grounds of Stormont estate on Wednesday night. One of 30 world wide venues hosting races to raise funds for spinal injuries, there was a 5k and a 10k race which took in the hill towards Parliament buildings and surrounding streets.
In the 5k event 13 year old Amelia Tyler won the ladies race for the 2nd year in a row. Amelia managed to reduce her winning time from last year, 21.44 to 21:03 and her brother Euan followed shortly afterwards in 21:16 which was 15th place overall.
In the mens race Thomas Patterson, 15 years, finished in 2nd place with a strong 17:41 time. Training partner John Ewing crossed the line less than a minute later in 18:36 and was rewarded with 6th place. Donald Smith must have felt like the race had only started when he finished after last weeks’ Ultra efforts around the Tollymore trails. He clocked 21:52 and 21st which ranks better than all of his park runs this year. Interesting racing agenda – could it catch on!
In the two lap 10k race we also had a podium finisher with Julie Balmer returning 3rd female in 45:15. Andrew Muir was 64th in 43:35 and John Ferguson recorded 45:06 to finish 113th. Cliff McCausland completed the two laps in 50:28 which provided him 253rd position. Caroline Crothers managed 56:12 and the Mellons, Alex and Ivan were unlucky not to come in under the 1 hour mark with 1:00:07 followed by Andrea Green and Glenn Frazer, also with an identical time, 1:00:09.
A good turnout from North Down athletes with the usual healthy assistance of members in the marshalling capacity.
NB – Results did not include Club identities, apologies to any runners not included.