New kit, a new winner, a new record and a new song – a typical Newcastle AC week!

Many of the Newcastle athletes are unrecognisable since the arrival of the new club kit.  Former kit manager and current club chairman Deon McNeilly acknowledged the Herculean efforts of his colleagues in procuring the new kit.  This has proved an exciting time for some members who have not purchased any apparel of any description since the last time the club ordered kit, a considerable time ago as evidenced by the lack of lettering on the back of their jackets.  While the kit was applauded by many at the Hill and Dale race, McNeilly was at great pains to point out that a selection of vests and shorts were still available from his garage – I think we have all heard that one a few times before!!!

Super-injunction crazy

In this crazy world of injunctions and super-injunctions it is refreshing to know that Newcastle AC is above such insanity.  Last week the Sports Editor ran a fascinating column on the history of Castlewellan Football Club.  It was great to see that many of the men who made that club great are still actively involved in sport, through Newcastle AC.  Among such notable figures are Marty McVeigh (with a little less hair these days), Paschal ‘Peter Pan Pockie’ Toner, who looks as fit and lean now as he did in the first of his thirty football playing seasons and an un-named footballer and athlete.

Loughshannagh Horseshoe

Until quite recently I had the perfect excuse not to run the Loughshannagh Horseshoe: I was the race director and therefore had to stay at base camp to manage the troops.  Regrettably with this excuse redundant and under increasing pressure from my erstwhile colleague Darren ‘Silky’ Swail, I foolishly decided that it would be a good idea to tackle this race; a race unanimously regarded as the toughest in the entire series, and by a long way.  I knew that my decision had been imprudent from the whistle.  By the bottom of Carn, my regret had deepened as one by one the field passed me.  By now Swail was a dot on the horizon, which judging by his girth, shows how far behind I was.  By the top of Doan I was frozen and the situation was irrevocable.  I decided at this point to distract myself by composing a song to take my mind of the thirty minutes of running that lay ahead.  As the wind tried to blow me back up Doan the song began to take shape.  By the time I was climbing up Loughshannagh, a new sense of clarity had emerged and the last ten minutes of the race were extremely enjoyable.  I attach my song and my nemesis, ‘Silky’ has promised to sing it at the last night presentation in O’Hare’s.

I’ve been a Fell Runner (allegedly!)

I’ve been a fell runner for many a year,

And to the Loughshannagh Horseshoe, I’d never gone near.

But after a phone call from ‘Silky’ Swail,

I took up a challenge that I was destined to fail.

 

I went towards Carn like never before,

Sure my lungs they were burning, my legs they sore.

I dropped down the descent, Murlough Runners went by,

I bowed my head low and I started to cry.

 

Around by the lake, and they kept going past,

I began to think it likely that I might come last.

Up over Doan, Swail far out of sight,

I knew in my heart that it wasn’t my night.

 

With Horace and Megan pushing me along,

I got up Loughshannagh composing this song.

I spoke French to Francios, he was duly impressed,

Then Noel Douglas stormed past me and I was depressed.

 

I caught up with Jack, he was also out for a trot,

We picked up some speed as we contoured to Ott.

But alas it was too little, and much much too late,

As eighty-three runners had passed the finish gate.

 

Now Swail has a big head, since he won our race,

And left me feeling humbled with egg on my face.

I’ll get him soon, just you wait and see,

But it wont be at Loughshannagh, since its not for me.

 

Congratulations to Andrew Annett from Mourne Runners who recorded his maiden Hill and Dale win and it does not a genius to work out that this will be the first of many for a young man who has the talent to be a real tour de force for many years.  Niblock was a gallant second and Newcastle were well represented by McKibbin in third and McNeilly in fourth.  In the absence of some of the more established names, there were opportunities to place well.  Eamon McCrickard, free from the shackles of organising, took full advantage and ran extremely well to claim 7th overall.  Eamon’s brother PJ, fresh from a Mediterranean cruise and therefore not used to the cold ran equally well in 31st overall, one place behind a resurgent Barry Wells.  Slightly further up the field, Richard Bell regained supremacy over Eugene McCann, while new recruit Nathan McComb was not too far behind both men. Other un-named Newcastle athletes, some of whom cannot be identified for health (mine!) reasons, had great runs and should be very pleased with their performances.  At the end of the race I asked Martin McVeigh if he had finished behind me.  He candidly replied, ‘Joseph, I finished behind many people tonight.’  On reflection I know how he feels!

Horray for the organisers

Well done to the organisers McMullan & Hamilton, who ensured that all ran very smoothly on an evening that was not conducive to running due to the unfortunate ‘Molotov Cocktail’ of high winds, low clouds and horizontal rain.  In fact this duo have set a new benchmark for Hill and Dale as for the first time ever a reserve entries team was on stand-by, waiting for the call from the bench.  Equally impressive, for the second week in a row, was the ability of the race organisers to manage proceedings while simultaneously babysitting.  A word of warning lads – the more proficient and dextrous you prove to be the more you will be asked to do!

Banbridge 10k

An impressive 374 athletes took to the line for the Banbridge 10k held on Wednesday 25th May.  In windy conditions, Adam Magowan triumphed in a modest time of 35:07.  He was closely followed by Brian McKee from Dromore in 35:28.  Newcastle AC had one athlete in the race, Mark Kendall.  Former hockey star and all round good egg Mark ran well and posted a highly respectable 37:00 to claim 6th place overall.  What is more surprising is that he did not run Loughshannagh the next evening as such acts of madness are usually his want!  However he did make his second appearance in the 5k at the Gasworks in Belfast.  This event is free, the only caveat being that athletes must register before 6.30pm on Friday evening.  Mark performed very well once again in the warm up until he felt his hamstring tighten and was forced to withdraw at the last moment, no doubt bemoaning the fact that he did not get his second racing fix of the week.

Newry City Marathon

Paul Fegan was the only Newcastle athlete to take the challenge of the Newry City marathon and was rewarded with a very respectable 76th place overall in a time of 3:49:47, just 6 minutes outside his personal best.  This is a great reward for a runner who is always up for a challenge and is known for travelling far and wide to compete in all manner of races. Samantha McNeilly had an impressive run in the half marathon, clocking 1 hour and 52 minutes for the 13.2 mile course.  Samantha had been forced to pull out of the Belfast marathon due to injury and will obvioulsy have her confidence restored on the back of this performance.

Another record on another windy night

Kerry Harty competed in Manchester on Saturday in a 5,000m race.  Despite another howling gale, Kerry finished 8th in 15:58, six seconds behind the winner.  The time was good enough to set a new Northern Ireland record.  Hopefully Kerry will have the opportunity to run on a calm evening to reap the benefits of her altitude training and record times commensurate with the effort that has been made in training.

Is Jason planning a comeback?

On Tuesday evening many turned out for the traditional club run.  This week as we ambled through the Island Park we saw dutiful dad and former descending legend Jason Weir on the swings in the play park enjoying himself.  Several hills and an hour passed before we came back along the same path and to our surprise discovered that Jason was still there.  Now Jason is a man of many failed comebacks.  Was this Day 1 of his latest training regimen designed to ensure that he fits into the new club tracksuit?  Was he bamboozled by the mechanism that opens the gate?  Was he waiting until the dishes were done, the ironing finished and the hovering completed at home?  No doubt his good friends and colleagues Barry and Pol Og will shed some light on the mystery before too long.

 

Not the end of ‘Shoey’

Regular followers of this column will recall that David ‘Shoey’ Steele took a bit of a lambasting in the last issue.  Since then new information has come to light.  It transpires that when travelling to a recent race David was stopped by another runner in Dundrum and asked if he was selling shoes.  Apparently the runner in the car behind had been following him at slow speed and couldn’t help noticing the selection of shoe boxes in his rear window.  On this basis he concluded David must have been a vendor of fine running shoes!  David replied that he could not consider parting with any of the shoes, no matter how generous the offer might be until he discovered what shoes Des Woods would be wearing.  It was known that Des would not be competing at Loughshannagh due to work commitments.  Was it coincidence that David did not turn up either without his Shoe Maharishi to guide him or had he used up all of his ‘get out to run passes’?

Junior News

We extend our best wishes to Eoghan Totten who will represent Ulster in the All-Ireland Schools 5000m Championships on 4th June in Tullamore, Co Offaly.  Junior athletes can also look forward to the Junior Monument race that will take place at 6.45pm on Thursday 9th June.  Registration begins at 6pm and closes at 6.35pm sharp.  Junior athletes from local clubs and those who do not belong to a club, but wish to experience trail racing are more than welcome.

The third of the Super 5 Meets took place on Thursday 26th May. Three Newcastle AC athletes braved the cold, windy weather and made the journey to the Mary Peter’s Track. Aidan and Kate McCauley competed for the first time in sprint hurdles and javelin. Both enjoyed the events and Aidan finished 5th in the 400m race.  Ciara Gibson also completed in the sprint hurdles for the first time and in Shot Putt in which she threw 7.39 metres.

What lies ahead

Tomorrow (Thursday) sees the Hill and Dale move to the Happy Valley for race 8 in the series Meelmore and Meelbeg.  Last year Stevie Cunningham had a veracious appetite and was the first to complete both Meels.  It seems unlikely that this will be the case this year and the smart money will be on Des Woods to wrap up the series, with Andrew Annett, fresh form his success in Race 7 not too far behind.  There are plenty of other races around in early June, with 10k races in Craigavon (8th June), Downpatrick (12th June), Hollywood Exchange in Belfast (12th June) and the ever popular Lisburn Half Marathon and 10k (June 15th).  As well as the remaining Hill and Dale races, athletes can look forward to Donard Downhill (9th June) and Slieve Donard (July 2nd – A full race preview will follow).