Over 700 people took part in one of the most picturesque 10ks in the racing calendar. It starts right at sea level and takes in around 500 feet of climbing with superb views from the high point of the course. The initial 3k takes the runner up the coast road and back along King Street before entering Donard Wood, crossing the Glen River and the First Bridge and rising steadily to the Water House. A muddy crossing then follows to the boundary wall of Tollymore Forest before dropping fast to the Tullybrannigan Road and Tipperary Path and then a flat 2km to finish through the Islands, Castle Park and back along the Promenade.
Local man David O’Flaherty (2nd last year in 36:02) didn’t need to wait for anyone to show him the way and pushed on at the front from the off, gradually building up a lead over Willowfield’s Neill Weir and to come home despite the windy conditions nearly one minute faster than last year in 35:08. Marty Melville continues to improve and finished 3rd in 36:18 nearly 3 minutes better than last year and not far off his lifetime 10k best which must be smashed next time on a flatter course. However, even that inspired improvement did not represent the best among the Newcastle boys, that prize goes to ‘I’m now as light as I was at 15’ Jack O’Hare – 43 minutes for the same race two years ago, Jack stormed home in easily the best race of his life in 6th place in 38:47, more than 6 minutes better. Fantastic to see all the consistent training paying off now in races for the boys.
Another fast improving club man is Noel Gallagher who came home in 28th in 42:32 not far outside his recent Lisburn 10k time on a much tougher course. The Prophet (‘I didn’t try and push Jillian into the gorse’) McCrickard is returning to form 35th in 43:11. Tuesday night training partners and hopefully soon to sign on the dotted line, Patrick Higgins was 19th in 41:02 with his girlfriend Mari Troeng 27th in 42:24 and 2nd lady behind Laura Graham. Patricia McKibbin ran strongly to finish 67th and 7th lady in 45:21. Finally it was superb to see Jerome Farrell make the start line and come home in 119th in 47:57 – a big step back in the right direction.
BOGBOY
1st David O’Flaherty 35:08
3rd Marty Melville 36:18
6th Jack O’Hare 38:47
19th Patrick Higgins 41:02
27th Mari Troeng 42:24
28th Noel Gallagher 42:32
35th Jerome McCrickard 43:11
40th Richard Rodgers 43:51
67th Patricia McKibbin 45:21
119th Jerome Farrell 47:57