Club Notes week of 18th November 2012

Harty is club champion after an impressive run

by Joe McCann

The Seeley Cup is the high point of the Northern Road Running year and is the one occasion when everyone who is anyone turns out to test their speed endurance against the very best from all of the local clubs.  This year saw an excellent turnout as 801 athletes completed the course.  As always Newcastle AC was very well represented in this blue ribbon event won in some style by Paul Pollock is just under 31 minutes, with Paddy Hamilton second.

The Tape or the Chip?

In the battle for the coveted Newcastle AC 10k title the old chestnut of real time versus chip time raised its ugly head.  Kerry Harty was first to cross the line in a highly respectable time of 34:23, evidence of the benefits that accrue from altitude training.  She was followed closely by Luke McMullan who recorded 34:24.  However when the chip times were published McMullan was judged to have completed the course one second quicker than Harty.  The matter was resolved at club level, when at an emergency meeting of the club Committee in O’Hare’s, debated the issue well into the night! Harty was duly declared the club champion by virtue of breaking the tape first, with McMullan confirmed as second lady finisher!

Some impressive times

There were mixed fortunes for the Newcastle athletes.  Mark Kendall recorded a PB as did ‘The Prophet’ and PJ McCrickard.  David Steele and Brendan Quail both ran strongly to finish on either side of the 36 minute mark.  John Kelly started slowly but finished very strongly and just failed to break 38 minutes in his debut 10k.  Paul Watson was consistent throughout and carded a par score of 38 and a half.  Quigley and Brown also dipped under the 40 minute mark, generally regarded as very good in 10k circles.  Niall Carson had a great run and despite his pre-race favourite tag was only 11 minutes behind the winner.  Mark King, festooned in well-cut shorts gave a good account of himself in the Newcastle colours and Declan Rice had his best run in over 30 years – as evidenced by his wide mouth grin at the end of the race.  For some it was a case of putting love before personal performance and I am thankful to the kind Murlough AC athlete who sacrificed her own time to ensure that I got home in one piece – inter-club relationships have reached an all-time high level of co-operation.

Newcastle AC Results at Seeley Cup 2012

Position

Name Cat Finish Time 1st Half 2nd Half Chip Time

35

Kerry Harty FO

00:34:23

00:16:56

00:17:28

00:34:24

36

Luke McMullan MO

00:34:24

00:17:04

00:17:21

00:34:23

55

Mark Kendall (PB) M35

00:35:16

00:17:18

00:17:58

00:35:16

76

David Steele M35

00:35:56

00:17:56

00:18:00

00:35:56

77

Brendan  Quail MO

00:36:06

00:18:01

00:18:06

00:36:05

112

John Kelly M45

00:38:05

00:18:53

00:19:12

00:38:05

125

Paul Watson M45

00:38:28

00:18:52

00:19:36

00:38:28

134

Brendan Donnelly MO

00:38:42

00:18:52

00:19:51

00:38:42

162

Aidan Brown M35

00:39:26

00:19:35

00:19:51

00:39:17

167

Jerome McCrickard (PB) M40

00:39:36

00:19:36

00:20:01

00:39:28

177

Ryan Quigley MO

00:39:51

00:34:33

00:05:18

00:39:40

179

PJ McCrickard (PB) M35

00:39:53

00:34:34

00:05:19

00:39:43

251

Niall Carson M40

00:41:35

00:20:38

00:20:57

00:41:28

431

Mark King M45

00:45:51

00:22:52

00:23:00

00:45:40

540

Declan Rice (PB) M45

00:48:30

00:41:47

00:06:43

00:48:20

609

Joe McCann M40

00:50:27

00:25:29

00:24:59

00:50:04

Recovery Run

Sunday morning saw the posse assemble in Castlewellan for the first look at the Christmas Cracker course, set by the perennial purveyor of seasonal goodwill, our very own Marty ‘bah humbug’ McVeigh.  The course of just over 9 miles takes in a variety of terrains in the Castlewellan environs and offers something to all types of runners.  Last year a record 200+ teams participated in what was a superb event.  There will be another chance to have a run over the course on Sunday 2nd December at 8:30am and all are welcome.