Record turnout for the Mill Hill Mile
by Joe McCann
Few would argue that the step climb from the hamlet of Annsborough to the conurbation of Castlewellan is one of the most demanding miles in the locality. This did not deter the 80 athletes of all ages who tackled this beast of a climb on Tuesday 13th September.
Following on from his impressive victory in 2010, East Down’s Liam Venney was the pre-race favourite. Liam certainly did not disappoint and clocked an impressive 5:38 and won by 30 seconds. Such was his domination that by the halfway point the others were competing for second place. Andrew McKee of Annadale Striders made the journey from Belfast worthwhile claiming second in 6:08, while David Steele was the best of the Newcastle athletes in third overall and taking 6 seconds of his PB to record 6:14. Kerry Harty ran very strongly in the windy conditions to record 6:20 and left many experienced male athletes trailing in her wake on the steep slopes. The rapidly improving Neil McCartan was first u-20 home in fifth overall and he too improved his PB for the course considerably. PJ McCrickard put the disappointment of Ben Nevis behind him to record 6:31 and claim seventh place, though his watch did show 4:28! Frankie Toner was the first Castlewellan man home in 22nd place, managing to hold off the challenge of Tim Prenter who is 10 years young!!! Diane Wilson put motherhood before personal glory and completed the course with her daughter Kelly in 12:31. Husband Brian commented at the finish, ‘that’s a lot faster than I could have run.’ Obviously those runs on Friday evenings with the lads may have improved your sense of humour, but not your speed!
Has Brannigan been eating the bacon?
Further down the field the competition was equally fierce, with many competing against the clock, their club-mates and in some cases their children! The evergreen Damien Brannigan, my newly re-acquainted running buddy, was not in the list of those setting a PB. In fact this club stalwart recorded a PW and looked like an extra from Tenko as he crossed the line confused, bewildered and exhausted. Having said that he did recover quickly and the smell of bulgur wheat drifting from his kitchen spurred him to hare down the road at breakneck speed to make the 9:03 sitting at his dining table. Though judging from the pictures as he approached the finish, he appears to be having a spoonful of cous cous too many in recent weeks and the ‘petite belly’ he so readily points out in others may be protruding for the first time as the photographic evidence would suggest. Perhaps he finally gave in to temptation and ate the chunk of fudge given on poling day in 2005! As an expert on such things, I would suggest it is time to sit further away from the table, big lad!! Thanks to all who helped in the organisation and smooth running of the event. Marty McVeigh, fresh from his travels was looking for a kindred spirit to scowl at the entrants as the meekly approached looking for a race number; he may just have found the ideal man, our very own personification of happiness and glee – Audey McVeigh. Thanks also for the donations which raised almost £300 for the Neo-Natal Unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital.
McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series 2011-12
Training has resumed for the Junior Club members and many competed in the Mill Hill Mile last week. However the real challenges begin this week with the first of 6 races in the McGrady Financial Services Junior Series. The racing gets underway on Sunday at 1.30pm sharp. All competitors and parents are reminded that registration will end before the coaches lead the warm-up at 1.15pm. No entries will be taken after this time and no exceptions will be made. Last year saw some fine racing with all athletes setting very standards in terms of performance and perhaps more importantly the correct attitude to taking part. We look forward to seeing if last year’s category winners can defend their titles and eagerly await challenges from rivals, both old and new. The over-riding and abiding memory of last year was the fantastic family atmosphere at each and every race and no doubt that will be replicated in the months ahead. Good luck to all competing and look out for a report on the event in the next issue.
2011-12 Junior Cross Country Series Races
P3 & P4 Boys
Conor Murray
P3 & P4 Girls
Eve Keneally
P5 Boys
Caelan Quinn
P5 Girls
Caoimhe-Grace O’Donnell
P6 Boys
Nathan Heath
P6 Girls
Michaela Quinn
P7 Boys
Matthew Carrick
P7 Girls
Aoife Cochrane
Year 8 Boys
Aidan Hawkins
Year 8 Girls
Ellen Erskine
Year 9+ Boys
Arthur Morgan
Year 9+ Girls
Ciara Gibson
Well Done!
Congratulations to David O’Flaherty and Paul Fegan who completed the Felix 10k in Dungannon yesterday. David recorded 36:05 to finish 6th overall, while Paul was 57th in a time of 48:28. Well done also to the irrepressible McNeilly and McCrickard on their performance in the Mourne Mountain marathon, Anne Sandford, on her performance in the World Masters’ Fell Running event, Eoghan Totten on his international selection and Michael Cunningham for a world record in scoffing chicken wings and cocktail sausages at the half-time interval of the Al-Ireland Football final. Such was the latter’s achievement that Marty McVeigh was left uncharacteristically speechless! More on all of these gobbets of information next week, when full details emerge and the truth can be exaggerated properly!!!