Report by Roadrunner

Five Newcastle athletes entered the Born 2 Run, Castlewellan Forest Park 10k on Saturday. A tough and demanding course took the field around the lake and through some of the higher trails of the park before a flat finish at the front of the lake.

The first home was Bryansford man Sean Russell fresh from his very impressive recent night series 10k win in Tollymore Forest. Sean was 5th overall in a time of 38.14. The Castlewellan veteran Connaire McVeigh was second Newcastle home and right on Sean’s tail in 6th place overall in a time of 38.23.

Brian McVeigh built on his January Tollymore Born 2 Run 10k to finish in 8th place overall in a time of 39.23. Brian commented that the recent hard work on the ‘flat hills’ of Donard Forest has helped him close the gap on his older brother who is now getting very worried.

Kilcoo’s Gary McEvoy who was also an impressive podium finisher in the recent in the Tollymore Forest night race was next to finish in 13th place in an impressive time of 40.25.

Benoit Le Houerou had a baptism of fire in his first ever 10k race to complete the Newcastle field. Benoit finished in 15th place in an impressive time of 41.08 When asked how did he find it Benoit said “there was definitely no hiding out there today”.

A thanks must go to Newcastle members James ‘the egg man’ King and Noel ‘wonderwall’ Gallagher for their support around the course. The lads were spotted above Crow Road hanging over a gate admiring the town-land of Burrenbridge and talking about by gone days.

A final thanks must go to Born 2 Run and the Forestry Service (Frankie and Gerard) for a great event.