Sunday saw the latest and 3rd race in the Novosco 10k series at the Titanic area. There was a healthy compliment of North Down runners and officials on show who all dealt with the difficult, windy conditions – the runners coping with the strong northerly wind with 2 miles to go and the marshalls feeling the chill from exposure to the same gusts.
Our top finisher was Rachel Gibson who finished 4th in a top quality ladies field with a time of 38:32. Francis Marsh was the first of our men home in 34:12, marginally clear of the out of sorts Craig McMeechan 34:20, 13th and 15th places. Ben Caughers ran his reliably strong race to finish in 35:40 and was rewarded with a 25th place placing. Jamie McMeechan was next in on 37:04 and 43rd and Chris Downey continued his great form with a pb return of 37:56 which placed him in 53rd. David Massey had traded places with Chris early on and then finished up coaxing Rachel in when he completed in 38:27.
Katie Moore, taking a well-earned rest from her university studies, was our second female home when she recorded 39:12 which placed her 6th. The ladies team were backed up by Rio Catney in 14th, who also claimed first junior, in a time of 41:36 and Melissa Eccles 41:34 in 15th spot. This secured a team victory for the ladies, well done girls.
34 of our athletes made the trip around the loops of the 10k while many of the club members assisted with the marshalling. With such a good turnout for the club the Novosco standings will be starting to take shape so hopefully our 10k runners are registered to defend the team success of last year.
Davie Seaton’s influence is such that Tony Wall, Philip Mulligan – Oscar and Debi in tow, Michael Stevenson, Colin Walker, Andrew Muir, Clare Russell and Eamonn O’Reilly to name a few, felt obliged to get buffeted with the early April wind to ensure the smooth running of the event. Well done everyone and apologies to anyone omitted, not easy to spot all the high viz jackets on show.