We Run Wild NI Newcastle Way
We Run Wild NI’s latest races were held on the Newcastle Way in the foothills of the Mournes on Saturday. The circular marathon distance trail took trail runners from Newcastle town centre through Tollymore Forest across to Castlewellan Forest Park from where they dropped down to the National Trust Murlough Reserve before a leg sapping run along Murlough beach back into Newcastle. North Down AC’s regular ultrarunner, Jill Connolly, opted for the half marathon distance starting just outside Castlewellan and completed the race in 2nd place in 1:50:18
Seeley Cup 10k
The Seeley Cup is traditionally the final major road race in the local running calendar. The 10k race around the Ormeau Embankment and Ormeau Park has been hosted annually since 1982 by Willowfield Harriers. The event commemorates Joe Seeley, an outstanding athlete fondly remembered as a fine competitor by many of our own club’s senior members. The Seeley Cup always attracts a strong field and quickly reaches capacity as runners, including more than 60 NDAC athletes, seek to put down a final fast road time before the cross country season gets into full swing.
Craig McMeechan was one of the pre-race favourites following his win at the Seaton Classic in Bangor in September but despite setting a new PB as he dipped under the 30 minute barrier for the first time in 29:50 he finished 3rd behind Candour Track Club’s Conall McClean 29:15 and Tony McCambridge 29:20.
Daniel Dines brought his 10k PB down to 31:35 in 12th, with Ashley Dixon also setting a PB (31:59) in 21st. Close packing of the remaining scoring North Down Team 1 from Kyle McLellan 28th (32:52), Garry Morrow 37th and 3rd M40(33:14) and Marc Neil 39th (33:18 PB) ensured a podium 3rd team overall.
Other notable performances on the men’s included Josh McDowell 34:13 PB, Finn Johnston 35:06, Sean McLaughlin 35:14 and Jonathan Gibson in a season’s best 35:44. John Ewing continued his excellent return to form, taking a 6 year old PB down to 36:00. Aaron Beggs set a new PB of 36:03, pacing several of his clubmates to their own PBs in the process. Alan McConnell’s 36:08 represented a 32 second PB and an excellent negative split and Andy Lowry 36:09 also joined the PB club! 15year old James Blease took his 10k PB down to 40:01.
In the women’s race, Katie Moore led North Down home in 9th, clocking 36:49, with Rachel Gibson in 19th (38:34) Lisa Tomalin 41:26 42nd. These scoring three secured 5th place for the NDAC ladies. 17 year-old Holly Blease also set a PB time of 41:56.
North Down AC was well represented in the AG prizes too; Sarah Gibson was 2nd F55 in 41:27 with Simon and Glynis Boyle both taking 2nd spot in the 60+ categories in 38:52 and 44:49 respectively. Pat O’Driscoll was 1st M70 in 1:11:00
Flahavans Primary School XC
Round 2 of the Flahavan’s League for Down primary schools took place on Monday 1st of December at the Dunleath Playing Fields in Downpatrick. Daly Seaton of Glencraig PS won the 1st race and was the fastest runner of the day. In the 2nd race, Harrison Mair (St Comgall’s PS) was 2nd, Finn McCullough (Ballyholme PS) 10th, Rory McCullough (Ballyholme PS) 11th, Fox Neill (St Comgall’s PS) 12th and Thomas Close (St Comgall’s PS) 17th. St Comgall’s PS were the first team in the 2nd race and Ballyholme PS were 3rd. Unfortunately Daly’s young brother Casey was unwell and couldn’t make the race, meaning Glencraig were not in the first three teams in the 1st race.
Sophie Wiltshire (Glencraig PS) was 18th in the 2nd girls’ race.
