Castlewellan Cross Country

Saturday 28th October 2006

Saturday saw the second version following the revival of the Newcastle AC promoted cross-country races, supported by Blue Lough at Castlewellan Forest Park, held again last year after a ten-year break. This year saw improvements such as the new Blue Lough Mountain & Water Sports Centre in the Courtyard beside the car park hosting the registration, changing and prize giving.

The course in Castlewellan Forest Park is pure and traditional cross-country – undulating, varied ground underfoot and wet in places. It consisted of a small lap covering 800metres and a large lap covering 2,000metres. The under-age races were over the small laps while the senior races took in the large lap.

First up over half a mile was the combined Boys and Girls U-12 over one small lap. In the first tight finish of the day Luke Russell from Dromore AC just held off Mark Stephens of East Down to win in 2 minutes and 47 seconds. John Benton from Shimna College finished third. East Down took the team prize.

Under 12 BOYS 1pm 800metres
1 small lap

There were only two participants in the under-12 girls, however, the quality shown by the winner Orla McAteer from the Canon Burke club in Newry made up for the lack of numbers. She came home ahead of all of the boys bar two in 2 minutes and 53 seconds.

Under 12 GIRLS 1pm 800metres
1 small lap

The combined uner-14 boys and girls were next up with one mile covering two small laps. Real quality was on show out at the front with the Lagan Valley trio leading the way. Adam Ingram won in a fast 5minutes and14 seconds from the Monaghan twins from Rathfriland.

Under 14 BOYS 1.15pm 1mile
2 small laps

The under-14 girls’ race saw star in the making local Joanne Mills representing East Down take the field apart to come home more than half a minute clear of Robyn McKee from Dromore and Eva Laverty from Canon Burke. Joanne is training consistently now including tough track sessions at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast. She is a strong runner and goes very well over the tougher terrain such as seen in Saturday’s race. East Down took the team prize.

Under 14 GIRLS 1.15pm 1mile
2 small laps

The combined under-16 girls and boys race was up next over three short laps. Once again a class performance was delivered by the winner James O’Hare from East Down who came home more than half a minute ahead of Shimna College pair Chris Hanna and Ryan Mills. Shimna College won the team race.

Under 16 BOYS 1.30pm 1.5miles
3 small laps

The under-16 girls’ race was won emphatically by Downpatrick’s Emma McShane now competing for Abbey AC from Cathy Lavery from Canon Burke.

Under 16 GIRLS 1.30pm 1.5miles
3 small laps

In the Under-18 Boys’ 2miles Andrew Jordan from Willowfield romped away to win in 11 minutes and 32 seconds from Thomas Simpson of North Down.

Under 18 BOYS 1.50pm 2miles
4 small laps

North Down’s Nicola Simpson was also a clear winner in the under-18 girls’ race in 13minutes and 46 seconds. A close race for second saw Abbey’s Catriona McCourt edge out Willowfield’s Helena Dalzell. Willowfield took the team prize.

Under 18 GIRLS 1.50pm 2miles
4 small laps

Abbey’s Sarah Magorian won the under-20 girls in 13 minutes 24 seconds.

Under 20 Girls 1.50pm 2miles
4 small laps

Next race up was the longest of the day over 5miles (4 long laps) for the Masters for men over-40. Peter Savage broke away on the first lap to lead all the way and win in 30 minutes and 14 seconds, 49 seconds ahead of the host club’s Richard Rodgers. 36-year-old Savage is from Rathfriland and an accomplished triathlete who is coming back to excellent form after a lean spell.

In third and fourth were two North Belfast athletes Brendan Dumigan and Eddie Burns. First veteran-45 was Dominic McGreevy from Ballydrain Harriers in 5th overall, followed by North Belfast’s Jim Newberry in 6th and first veteran-50.

North Down’s Brian Smith took the honours in the veteran-60 category in 19th overall just ahead of first veteran-55 North Belfast’s Dave Clarke.

Masters MEN 2.15pm 5 miles
4 large laps

The ladies and men’s open races completed the day’s programme over one small lap and two large laps covering 3 miles in total. In the ladies section, Newcastle AC’s Kerry Harty was making her first outing of the season over the country after a very successful track season, which included an Irish international vest over 800 metres in the televised event in Scotland and finishing 2nd in the UK Challenge Final over 1,500metres in Manchester.

She powered off from the start to come home in an impressive 19 minutes and 30 seconds, 1 minute and 14 seconds ahead of club mate Alwynne Shannon, who won the ladies master category. Louise McNeill of Abbey came home in third another 38 seconds behind with Clare Galbraith in 4th to help win the team prize for Newcastle.

Open LADIES 3pm 3miles
1 small lap, 2 large laps

Masters LADIES 3pm 3 miles
1 small lap, 2 large laps

The men’s open race was a thriller with a group of three breaking way early on. Paul Carroll from Annadale broke away on towards the end of the first big lap and won impressively in 16 minutes and 22 seconds, 13 seconds ahead of Abbey’s Simon Taylor with his club mate Owen Carleton just two seconds behind him.

Mourne Runners’ won the team race with Gary Bailie in 11th, Sam Heron in 14th and Clive Bailie in 15th.

Open MEN, Masters O60
1 small lap, 2 large laps 3pm 3 miles

All in all, it was a successful promotion for the hosting club, Newcastle AC and their sponsors Blue Lough (part of the Highpoint Group). Thanks to all who helped on he day and made it all go as smoothly as possible.

BOGBOY