By the Head Chef
Two Newcastle and District AC members put their toes to the line on Wednesday night past to compete in the inaugural Ardglass Festival 5k and 10k road races. In the 50th anniversary of the Ardglass festival local hotelier Jack O’Hare and the Brian McVeigh made the short trip to the picturesque fishing town to compete.
O’Hare Leads from start to finish
Following two extremely tough Donard Forest quarry/mast training sessions on the Monday and Tuesday evening it was very much a surprise to see O’Hare arrive in his Bentley to compete in the 10k race. O’Hare did not disappoint and lead the race out from the local primary school start line down to the harbour front and then out the Strangford Road towards Chapeltown. The route then made its way to Coney Island before a tough incline along the Killough Road and back to the finish in Ardglass. It was along the incline along the Killough Road where O’Hare really came into his own and made his move to claim overall first position in a very impressive time of 36.52. For winning the race O’Hare was presented by the race organisers with a clock which he claims he will place above the ovens in the kitchen of his Avoca Hotel, resort and Spa in order to keep his chefs on track. It is also reported O’Hare is on the lookout for a wall medal hanger to show off his medal haul from over the years. Can any Newcastle members can help him out with one?
5k win also for Newcastle and District AC
Brian McVeigh in the 5k race followed the marker set down by the experienced O’Hare and also lead the race out along the Downpatrick Road, which was in the opposite direction to the 10k start. Leading from start to finish McVeigh claimed the second overall first position of the night for Newcastle and District AC. McVeigh did not disappoint fellow runner and Newcastle native Alan Grant who pre-race did debate the potential outcome at length with Ballykinler’s Sean McCashin. Grant was proved right in the end with McCashin left scratching his head to which McVeigh brother did actually run the race. Finishing overall first in a time of 18.31 McVeigh has put the win down to the fact that his older brother was not there as he has downed tools from racing for two weeks to get ready for the forthcoming Mill Hill mile race.
King set for Ballykinlar
One of the big talking points of the night was has coach Higgins ever ran on the roads around Ardglass? After consultation with his much talked about kitchen map it was confirmed he hasn’t, however in a bid to capture an Ardglass circuit in the near future this Sunday morning coach Higgins is taking his marathon training crew to experience the sights of Ballykinlar, Minerstown and Scollogstown.
Mill Hill Mile race
Online registration is now open for the annual Newcastle and District AC Mill Hill Mile race on Tuesday 3rd September 2019 at 7:00pm. ALL runners must register online and registration will close on Monday 2nd September at 9pm.
Photos by Jim Masson at DownNews.co.uk