Report by Siobhán Grant

One would have anticipated that the heavens would open and pour upon over 340 runners who had made the trip to Castlewellan as Newcastle AC rolled out Race One of this years Hill and Dale Series. However there was a change in the daily weather storyline as the grey clouds dispersed and Castlewellan Lake glistened under clear blue skies. However the weather in recent days had held itself within the ground and runners were quickly reminded of this at different points throughout the route when they skidded around corners and searched for any grip on the grass.

Always a popular race with the trail and mountain runners alike, Race 1 also opens itself to those who tentatively want to dip their toes in some off road adventures, maybe inspired by their participation in December’s Christmas Cracker, with the stunning backdrops of the forests and mountains of South Down surrounding them. They either finish and have caught the bug or decide spectating is way more fun.

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Report by Siobhán Grant

As the number of baby lambs pracing around the fields increases, bright yellow daffodils line the roadside, the skies are blue and you can feel the heat in the sun, this all points to Spring however for the Newcastle AC Junior squad, it also means the arrival of Track and Field Season. The Nike Vaporflies are getting a few more road miles these days and the cross country spikes have been made redundant and replaced for track spikes whilst the trail shoes are just getting a run out at parkrun and family adventures in the mountains.

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Report by Siobhan Grant

Report by Siobhan Grant

Yasin Brannigan, fresh off his 5k PB at Queens a few weeks ago, packed his kit and his trainers to go on holiday and went out to prove that it doesn’t matter where you are, solid training will stand by you anywhere in the world.

Bristol Track Club 5K took place on Good Friday at Odd Down Cycle Circuit, Bath.

With a 3k and 5k option on the evening, Yasin opted for the 5k which consisted of 3 full loops and a little bit more of the circuit.

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Race Report by Siobhan Grant

It was a very damp Saturday morning lakeside for the weekly run out at Castlewellan Parkrun. The sky probably still drying its eyes after losing an hours sleep last weekend.

None the less, with the tagline of ‘you only get wet once’, many of the Newcastle AC Juniors, their parents and a few of the Junior Coaches brought along their own sunshine in the form of their smiles and toed the line under the watchful eye of Race Director, Joe McCann.

As the race brief got underway, many of the runners, who, still half asleep, were sent into momentary panic as a convincing Mr McCann outlined that the precourse check had resulted in the need for the normal course to be rerouted due to a fallen tree on the infamous Crow Road, pausing long enough for runners to feel the fear of running up the hill to the Castle. Soon he finishing off his announcement indicating that we would be running Slievenaslat, eventually the penny dropped and everyone caught on it was just a very convincing April Fools joke. Thankfully.

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Race Report by Siobhan Grant

On Thursday night, the yellow and red vests where spotted lining up along the River Lagan for the infamously fast course of Queens Race Around the River 3k and 5k.

Alongside a number of our Senior runners, the Juniors were out in force too.

The looped course has been home to many Personal Bests and as the evenings grow longer it was fantastic to see the 3k set off under dusky skies.

Emily McMullan had claimed earlier in the week that it was brother Ethan who was to blame for her attending this race, though I’m sure after the race she was delighted with her performance and hopefully thanked him for suggesting she takes part also. Emily set off within the large pack of runners for the 3k race which was 1 &¾ loops of the route. She held a steady pace and found great momentum to clock a 3k personal best of 12.50 for 68th place. Off the high of this performance, the next day Emily was instrumental in her school Netball team success at the NI Finals. Continue reading →