Dromore XC 2012

Please Sir…may I have DroMore…laps?

By Captain XC

Results

Another Saturday, another cross country race. This time it was the turn of Dromore AC to host their annual race. This race isn’t for the faint hearted as the terrain is more akin to a fell race, nevertheless the Newcastle team were up to the challenge.Oh yeah…is that tomorrow?

In the days leading up to the race nirunning.co.uk had made the prediction Ryan Quigley would finish in the top ten. Even with this in mind the captain had to remind him about the race the night before. After last year’s logistical problems which resulted in various members of Newcastle arriving late and missing the race, the XC Captain was there with plenty of time to spare. Upon arrival we happened upon David McNeilly who has been in fine form of late, he even promised the captain he would try his very best not to lap him.

You spin me right round…
Normally the course straddles two fields; one smaller and one larger/hillier. This year was different as the larger of the two had been deemed too muddy (if there is such a thing in an XC race). So the course was reorganised to eight laps of the smaller field…..yes eight. On hearing this David remarked ‘I like this, I couldn’t have wished for better.’ (I had to clean that one up ever so slightly). Once the race had begun David and Andy quickly moved into the lead and away from the rest of the field, leading everyone else fighting for third. Ryan filled the void in great style and remained there for the next three laps. The course itself was already in a dire state with the junior, ladies and vets races having taken place earlier than day. There was a very disappointing club turn out in the junior races with only 2 athletes competing.  Well done to Cormac McElroy in the U11 race and Caolan Hawkins in the U13 race.  Both produced great performances in the mud against the older athletes in their races.

‘But you promised Dave!’
As the race wore on and the course wore out David remained alongside Andy until the sixth lap when Andy opened a decisive gap. At this point our own captain was once again in imaginary second position until it dawned on him he was being lapped. David slowed down to apologise for lapping me briefly before heading out on the last lap. Ryan had held 3rd position for almost half the race but was beginning to tire, although he still managed to hold a solid pace for 5th.

A man named Carroll.
Despite David’s best efforts Andy went on to win, albeit by a small margin. Ryan held on to fulfil the nirunning.co.uk prophecy and the XC captain finished… eh… not last. Once we had discussed how awesome each of us was we parted ways and returned home to wash a large portion of Dromore off our legs.
In other news.
Seán ‘In the Big Ring’ Donnelly has recently been spotted training with the Big Fella’s Fella and he has been in protracted discussions with the XC captain for partnership in the Christmas Cracker. Time will tell.

Congratulation to Eoghan Totten who had a fantastic run at the European Cross Country Championships in Budapest on Sunday.