Club notes week of 14th October 2013

Some GR8 performances for Newcastle athletes in a busy weekend of competition

By Terry Tullian

589 athletes took part in the 4th running of the Gr8 Dundrum Race organised by Murlough AC on Saturday 12th October.  Conditions were as close to prefect as there was little wind, a gentle cooling breeze and the sand was reasonably firm.  East Down’s Brendan Teer was rarely troubled as he charged to his third consecutive victory since Deon McNeilly claimed a victory in the inaugural race back in 2010.  Don Travers was almost a minute behind in second place while Annadale strider Paul Carroll completed the podium.  Newcastle’s best finisher was David McNeilly in a gallant fourth, having scythed through the filed in the last two miles on hearing some words of advice and guidance from the variety of coaches and all-round know-it-alls standing by the side of the road.  Brendan Quail had another strong run to finish sixth in a highly respectable 48:30, a time that would have been good enough for victory in 2010!

I bet they don’t recognise me!
Colin Pascoe was strong throughout, narrowly missing out on a sub-50 minute time.  He was closely followed by former Murlough pin-up boy Michael King, who in a failed attempt to compete incognito grew a fairly impressive beard!  Hard luck Michael, your erstwhile clubmates did not fall for the clever disguise!  Simon Poland once again was the very definition of facial expression as he worked incredibly hard to record a very good 53:24; clearly a man who wears his emotions on his face!  John Kelly won the battle of the John Kelly’s, beating John Kelly by two and a half minutes though the vanquished John Kelly had the last laugh as he won the V50 (I know he looks a lot older!) while John Kelly went home empty handed, again.  John Kelly received a cheque for his trouble and has now to open a bank account to lodge it! Both John Kelly’s have vowed to train harder and attend every Tuesday session to improve their leg speed. Newcastle AC actively welcomes applications for membership from all John Kelly’s! Patrick Bradley was next home, with plenty to spare in breaking the magic hour barrier.  Jacinta Doyle was Newcastle’s only female competitor and she ran a very satisfying 69:56.

A tad short
The Newcastle contingent was rounded off by marathon man par excellence Paul Fegan who recently completed 4 marathons in 4 consecutive days.  When asked about this race he commented, ‘it was a wee bit short for me.’  Best wishes to Paul and all the other local athletes competing in Amsterdam next weekend. Damien Brannigan did not attend, but he did manage to cut the grass to 5mm, wash the car, paint the fence, hoover the driveway, realign the kerbstones and trim a few bushes before tucking into a mung bean and lentil stew. He says he might compete next year if he can find the time!

Position Surname Forename Category Finish Time Chip Time

4

McNeilly David MO

00:46:51

00:46:51

6

Quail Brendan MO

00:48:31

00:48:30

14

Pascoe Colin M35

00:50:07

00:50:06

17

King Michael MO

00:50:32

00:50:31

26

Kelly John M45

00:52:01

00:51:58

36

Poland Simon M35

00:53:25

00:53:24

40

O’Boyle Danny M35

00:53:40

00:53:38

52

Kelly John M50

00:54:39

00:54:38

85

Bradley Patrick M40

00:57:10

00:57:07

336

Doyle Jacinta F50

01:10:01

01:09:56

361

Fegan Paul M35

01:11:26

01:11:04

 

 

The Armagh 10
The action on Sunday 13th October was in Armagh for the increasingly popular 10 mile road race, starting and finishing at Navan Fort.  This is a perennial favourite of the Newcastle faithful and this year 4 athletes with eyes firmly fixed on marathons in Frankfurt and Dublin in the weeks ahead used the event as a final sharpener.  In a tough undulating 10 miler mark Kendall was the best of the Newcastle contingent recording a speedy 58:29, good enough for 13th overall and showing good leg speed ahead of his next assault on the 26.2.  Aidan Brown, 2 weeks away from his debut over the marathon distance, is also in fine shape and will be confident of a sub-3 hour time on the back of this performance.  The Prophet and Norman Smyth finished hand in hand, akin to ‘Hen’ and Sam Herron the day earlier, clearly a case of ‘you first sir’, ‘no, after you sir’.  And they say running is a competitive endeavour!  Brannigan was due to run, but was too tired after his exertions on Saturday.  Eddie McGinley of Annadale Striders was a clear winner in 51:02, recording an average mile time of 5:06, impressive by anyone’s standards.

Finish Name Category Time Chip Time Av. Mile Pace
13 Mark Kendall

MO

58:29

58:29

05:51

27 Aidan Brown

MO

1:01:53

1:01:54

06:11

41 Jerome McCrickard

M40

1:04:28

1:04:30

06:27

42 Norman Smyth

M45

1:04:29

1:04:30

06:27

Next on the horizon for the Newcastle posse is the cross country in Rostrevor on 26th October and team captain David McNeilly had intimated that he will be fielding a very strong line-up – watch this space!!!