Write a commentNewry AC athletes were back out as the winter season of running commences. Athletes travelled to destinations in England, South of Ireland, the Mournes, Newcastle and Co. Armagh. Events varied from Mountains, Orienteering, Cross Country and Road Running.
Tuesday 25th September
School’s Cross Country - Kibroney Park, Rostrevor
Club Juniors Chloe O’Hare and Anna Fegan competed in the first of the school cross country events of the season at Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor on Tuesday. Both girls had good runs and this is good preparation of the winter trail and cross country racing. No results or placings were available.
Saturday 29th September
Ford 5k - Newcastle
Sarah Jane Beattie and Jonny Gregg attended the flat and fast annual Ford 5k Road Race on Saturday. Jonny finished in 7th place in a time of 17:43 and lifted a 1st MV45 prize. Sarah Jane finished in 36th place in time of 21:37.
Annaghmore 5k
Lee Maginnis took part in the well-attended Annual Annaghmore Running Festival just outside Portadown. Lee competed in the 5k event of which he lifted 2nd place in a time of 18:42.
NIMRA Buzzards Roost Race, Mournes
Paul Le Blanc and Noel Carr took to the Mourne Mountains to run the final race of the NIMRA Championship 2018 Series with fabulous dry and sunny conditions. The race started from Carrick Little Lane, over the trails to the Lamagan Cove col, up and over Lamagan and down its boulder fields to the trail crossroads and up the mighty Binnian before a descending sprint to the finish. Paul completed the race with a time of 1:32:35 in 21st place and lifting 2nd MV55. Noel completed with a time of 1:36:36 in 28th place and taking 4th MV40.
Sunday 30th September
Rathfarnham 5km Road Race
Racing duo Hughie Mackin and John McCaffrey travelled down to Rathfarnham to compete in the 5k Road Race. They both had a great run with Hughie flying in at a great time of 17:58 and John following on his heels with a time of 18:12.
TJ McElmeel Cup Cross Country Event, Armagh
Esther Dickson kicked off the first of the cross country season events with a challenging 6k race at the Palace Demesne, Armagh. With a packed programme organised by Armagh AC and a new event for the Cross Country Calendar, Esther took on a competitive field of runners. She completed the race with a 5th placing and a training benchmark for the next few months of the winter race season.
Saturday/Sunday 29th/30th September
Junior Inter Regional Orienteering Championships – Derbyshire, England
Club Junior Meadow McCauley donned the Northern Ireland shirt for the NI Junior Orienteering Squad. They attended the Junior Inter Regionals Championships at the Chatworth Estate in Derbyshire this weekend. Meadow had a good performance in the individual race on the Saturday and had an outstanding performance with the relay team on Sunday. Orienteering requires the skill to navigate with map and compass in a race environment but also the tough training schedules that Newry AC coach Kookie O’Hagan sets Meadow, shows at competition level as she has the speed, endurance and strength to cover mountain and forest terrain as well as navigate. With the experience of these events, Meadow is chomping at the bit to join the Newry AC Hill and Dales Race Team as a Junior runner in Spring 2019.
