McGreevy sets a Club Record, while O’Flaherty and Kendall impress on the roads

by Mad Dog Blackfoot

David O’Flaherty was the best of the Newcastle AC athletes with a superb 4^th place at the Gr8 Dundrum run, suffering the heartache of losing a podium finish in the closing stages.  The quality of the field was such that David’s time would have won the race in 2011 and broke the course record!  With 30 runners inside the 52 minute mark, it certainly was an exceptionally fast paced race with a high quality leading pack.  Brendan Quail also had a storming run and narrowly missed out on breaking 49 minutes in finishing 13^th, definitely not unlucky for him.  David Steele, who did not leave the house in the week leading up to the race in case he got injured was suitably rewarded with a sub:50 minute time while Eugene McCann won the vet-50 prize, which I am reliably informed he generously donated to Jack O’Hare that very evening!  As predicted John Kelly broke the 52 minute barrier, but was narrowly edged out by North Belfast’s Jim Benson; a man who clearly reads the local press and plans to overcome his nearest rivals.  He was greatly appreciative of the many emails and texts received from an anonymous source during the week.  I was equally happy to find a thank you card and a bottle of wine from an anonymous benefactor on the bonnet of my car after the race!  There were other great performances from the Newcastle athletes as they peppered the top 100 and beyond!  Dominic McGreevy was so pleased with his time that he proffered to buy the Sunday Tay and scones for the assembled posse, a decision he would live to regret after he forked out £26 (I am led to believe this is a club record spend by a single athlete!).  Thanks to all who responded to my invitation for Tay!!!

Newcastle AC Results at Gr8 Dundrum Run

Mark’s Marathon Diary

While many were in Dundrum, Mark Kendall had travelled further afield to take part in the Amsterdam Marathon and he sent this report.  “The weather had been humid and warm on Friday and Saturday, but we woke up on race day to wind and rain and temperatures of 5 degrees.
The race started in Olympic Stadium and I was in the starting pen just behind the Elite male athletes. The race started on the track and took in 200 metres before departing from the main entrance. I got away quite quickly without too much bother and got to my race pace quickly. The course is renowned for being flat, but also is very open and exposed and with the weather conditions on race day this was going to prove to be an additional challenge.

I got into a good group with a Dutch athlete who lives on the course (he pointed out his house to me at the 5km mark!) and a guy from Dublin and we discussed our planned finished times early on and decided to work together as much as possible and this really worked well for us.

The course meanders its way initially through a really nice park (Vondelpark) and then on to Canal Paths towards to Amstel river where the course goes down one side for 6km and then up the other between half way and 15 miles where we were into a head wind and this was a difficult part of the course. The race doesn’t enter the main city centre at any stage so support was only around the first 5 km and last 5km.”

Mark was very happy with his run and who can blame him recording a brace of sub:2-45 marathons within a six month period.  Audey is less happy as he owes the Prophet a tenner in a lost bet over finishing times!

Something to look forward to

Next week sees the Bobby Rea Memorial Cross Country and club Captain Brendan Donnelly is confident of a strong showing. The Juniors are also in action at the NI and Ulster Even Age Cross Country Championships at Kilbroney Park Rostrevor.  Details on both next week.