Some photos Here. Results

Can anyone find me a babysitter!

The 6^th annual Gr8 Dundrum Run by Bogusboy

The Dublin Marathon may only be a week away, but many of the NAC athletes were still determined to give this now firmly established race a ‘good lash’. As the sun shone, conditions were ideal for racing and a huge crowd gathered to take part or spectate as 11am approached.  Among the most pumped up was our very own ‘Wonderwall’. However, this fine specimen of running prowess had two main difficulties – a child at the end of each hand and no entry for the event. Notwithstanding these obstacles, he was like a coiled spring and would probably have run just under 53 minutes had a suitably qualified babysitter been found. Wonderwall was left to cheer others on and think what might have been – as for next year it is a case of ‘Definitely Maybe’.  In the meantime he was given sound advice by The Prophet, ‘Don’t look back in anger’, get yourself ready for Dublin ‘Little by Little’ and understand ‘the importance of being idle’ for the next 8 days. ‘Some might say’ these were pearls of wisdom.

Quick times

Well over 800 runners started the race and Martin Melville was quickly in the mix, going with the fast early pace set by Andrew Annett. Annett would go on to win, holding off the challenge of the ever-improving William McKee of Mourne Runners.  With the wind generally benign and the sand uncharacteristically firm in most places, fast times were always possible. Melville’s 47:29 which secured 6^th place would have been good enough to win in previous years.  Indeed the number of runners breaking the one hour barrier was higher than usual for reasons outlined above.

Entente Cordial

Alliances were formed throughout the field and a wave of runners festooned in red and yellow were testimony to the unbreakable bonds that were made between NAC and EDAC on the day. McCann and Murray were virtually holding hands as they crossed the line.  Byrne had a great run in his ‘home’ race and The Prophet was delighted with his run, claiming to be firing on nearly all cylinders! Murtagh, two weeks away from the New York marathon was in equally fine form finishing just ahead of lesser spotted Danny O’Boyle, a man on his annual pilgrimage to Dundrum! Will Owens was next and continues to make great strides (pardon the pun), finishing just ahead of Frank Cunningham, a man who embodies the progress that can be made with committed training and effective coaching.  My sources tell me that he received numerous effusive messages of support and encouragement from Cathal and Joker before and after the race – great praise from two outstanding athletes in their own disciplines! A little further back Declan Rice was comfortably in the top third of the field, just ahead of the first of the four Doyle girls – they won the award for the most members of a single family in the race; regrettably there was no prize! the other three Doyle girls were no too far behind as the crowd at the finish thought they were suffering from ‘triple vision.’ Ronnie Horrox further embodied the NAC spirit of giving as he took on the pacing duties for two MAC ladies and brought both home with great aplomb.  Paul Fitzpatrick had a very steady run, coming home in 69 minutes for the testing course.

Well Done

Congratulations to our neighbours in Murlough AC for the biggest and best running of the event to date and no doubt the event will reach new highs in 2016.