|
Success at Dromore Cross-Country
for Newcastle AC 2004
Saturday 11th December 2004
Full
Results
Dromore cross-country races have a well-earned reputation
for being among the toughest on the calendar. They are
traditional cross-country based on the roots off the
sport rather than being tailored for the 'track stars'.
Too many cross-country courses today are manicured to
ensure that the pace is very fast and much like road
racing, but Dromore is an exception.
The venue is simply a farmer's field. The going is
always soft with rutted ground and undulating all the
way round the 1-mile loop, no really big hills, just
long drags that sap the strength from the legs and,
importantly, so fast flat sections to advantage the
speedsters.
These are heady days for Newcastle Athletic Club, with
over fifty active members it is one of the biggest running
clubs in Ireland and its achievements over the past
few years speak for themselves. So, as the club reaches
25 years old, when it turns up in force at races these
days, people take notice.
First mention goes to 11-year old Aine McCann who racing
well above her age group in the Under-13 came home an
excellent third, eight seconds behind East Down's Joanne
Mills. There was also a good 5th place for David Mawhirt,
representing Shimna College in the Boys Under-13 race
and 7th place for Wills McNeilly in the Boys Under-15
race, both chips of the old block.
The Ladies and Veteran Men's race covered three laps.
For Newcastle, after eight weeks out recovering from
a calf tear, Kerry Harty was making her comeback alongside
Anne Sandford, favourite for the veteran's section,
who has had a good cross-country season so far and Martina
Hawkins, now finding the form of her life.
Fast starting as ever, Harty was in the front bunch
alongside the Lagan Valley pair of Catriona McCorkell
and Maria Skelton. The red and yellow was also packing
well behind with Sandford and Hawkins in the next bunch.
By lap three Harty had lost touch with the leading pair
but came home in 3rd in 18 minutes 58 seconds just 24
seconds behind winner McCorkell. Sandford finished first
veteran in 4th place overall in 19 minutes 41 seconds
with Hawkins making up the team in 5th just 19 seconds
behind. This gave the Burrendale Hotel & Country
Club-sponsored ladies the team victory - the first ever
ladies team victory in the 25-year history of the club.
Another victory for the Newcastle club on the day came
over the same three laps for Richard Rodgers in the
men's veteran's race in 16 minutes 45 seconds.
The Men's Open race took place over 5 miles with Newcastle
well represented. As usual right from the off, Alan
McKibben set the early pace followed by club mate Deon
McNeilly and North Down's Jamie Budde. Behind, the Newcastle
team was being made up by Paul Mawhirt, 6th at the end
of lap one and Joe McCann a couple of places behind
in 8th.
By the end of lap two McKibben still led with Budde
close by, but McNeilly looked beaten having drifted
20 metres of so off the pace. Never write off McNeilly
though, the wily fox has 25 years of racing experience
under his slimmed down waistline and by the end of lap
three he was back in contention alongside his club mate
with now Budde suffering and off the pace.
The course at Dromore is a McNeilly dream. Known over
the years for his strong running over tough courses,
he was now starting to grind McKibben down and slowly
he gained a few yards. At the end of four miles, McNeilly
was now 20 metres clear and McKibben was trying hard
but just couldn't close the gap.
27 minutes and 9 seconds after the start McNeilly crossed
the finish line, a very respectable time for 5 miles,
never mind the conditions and 6 seconds ahead of McKibben
- an excellent one-two for the local club. Behind Mawhirt
had faded after his fast start leaving McCann next counter
in 8th place in 29 minutes 45 seconds. Mawhirt made
up the scoring team in 11th place in 31 minutes and
7 seconds. This gave Newcastle AC first place with an
excellent 22 points.
Joe McCann, Paul Mawhirt, Alan McKibben - Martina
Hawkins, Kerry Harty
BOGBOY
|
