Write a commentThis week, Newry AC athletes took on road races in Dundalk and Banbridge as well as the opening race of the Hill and Dales Series in Castlewellan and a Championship Race Route Recce in Wicklow. A total of 3 Juniors and 11 Seniors were in action. The ladies of the club again taking lead for the club in race success.
DkIT 10k, DUNDALK
On Wednesday evening, Jonny Gregg travelled to Dundalk to take part in the DkIT 10k Road Race. This is a popular race for the Dundalk area and draws in a large crowd of runners of all levels. The fast paced race started and ended at the Dundalk IT Sports Facility and took the runners through the town of Dundalk. Weather conditions were cold but dry giving perfect race conditions for the 735 competitors.
Jonny ran a consistent race coming over the line in 23rd overall placing, 2nd MV50 and in a time of 37:23.
HILL & DALES SERIES RACE 1, CASTLEWELLAN FOREST PARK
This much anticipated race took place on a cold but dry evening on Thursday evening. 12 Newry AC athletes joined a race field of 324 in this popular series opener. Race and ground conditions were perfect. This was a 4.7 mile route with 1,080 feet of ascent. The start line was at the base of the hill at the castle and on the whistle just over 300 athletes stampeded up the hill towards the castle to take on the trails and challenging climbs that Slievenaslat welcomed them with. The race had technical descents and incorporated single mountain bike trails which packed the middle and rear runners tightly together at times causing some interesting passing manoeuvres. The race followed around the challenging climbs of Slievenaslat and many positions were gained or lost on the final mile run of the flatter lower paths by the lake with a fighting painful sprint by many athletes through the gate up the hill to the base of the castle for the finish.
At the front of the field, Esther Dickson was on a mission to maintain her Hill and Dales Crown. She lead strongly from the start, working well on the technical descents and powering along the ascents. Esther finished 1st female, 19th overall and 10 places ahead of the next competitive female, Karen Wilton. A good start to the 2019 series. Rory Mulvaney who has had a strong start to the mountain running season, was first in for the Newry AC team with 16th placing and in a time of 34:39. Maurice Harte followed in seconds after in 17th place and in a time of 34:50. Those who also impressed within their categories where Warren Cartmill coming in with a 3rd in the MV45, Ciara Coffey in her debut Hill and Dales was well pleased in picking up 1st in her FV40 category and also a debut category win was made for Meadow McCauley as 1st Female Junior. Next weeks Race 2 is in Tollymore Forest Park, of which has a distance of 5.5 miles with a 900ft ascent.
Full results for all the Newry AC athletes who all had impressive runs are as follows:
Rory Mulvaney, 16th, 34:39
Maurice Harte, 17th, 34:50
Esther Dickson, 19th, 1st Female, 35:02
Aidan Murray, 21st, 35:10
Warren Cartmill, 35th, 3rd MV45, 37:07
Ciara Coffey, 71st, 1st FV40, 39:44
Sarah Quinn, 98th, 41:18
Meadow McCauley, 117th, 1st Female Junior, 42:41
Sarah Jane Beattie, 137th, 43:39
David Burns, 204th, 48:07
David Hughes, 235th, 50:10
Joanne McCauley, 242nd, 50:31
SEAPATRICK 5K, BANBRIDGE
On Sunday morning, 2 Newry AC athletes took park in the annual Seapatrick 5k Road Race just outside Banbridge. The weather conditions were dry but with an cold wind blowing but this did not deter the 120 keen 5k participants. Sarah Jane Beattie after racing a debut in the Hill & Dales on Thursday night was still able to maintain a steady and strong performance to finish 4th overall in a time of 20:30 and lift the 1st female prize. Club Junior, Eve Welsh, had a brilliant run and finished 9th overall in a time of 23:01, 2nd overall female and lifted the 1st Female Junior prize. Well done Sarah Jane and Eve.
NIMRA JUNIOR RECCE, DJOUCE, WICKLOW
Meadow McCauley travelled with the NIMRA Junior Squad to Powerscourt in Wicklow on Sunday morning. This was to take part in a recce of the Qualifier route for the 2019 IMRA U20 European Championships Trial Race which takes place on the 27th April. This route is in the beautiful mountains of Wicklow, working its way through Crone Wood by the Wicklow Way, crossing the water gates of the Dargle River before taking on Djouce Mountain.
The distance was 5.531km with 1,610 ft of ascent and 320ft of descent with technical ground to cover. The weather was perfect for the recce with dry and sunny conditions but the wind chill was bitter with a strong wind in the open mountain sections. The ascents were challenging with technical descent towards the river before another long climb again towards Djouce. This was a productive training recce of which gave the young athletes the route knowledge and a target plan to assist them in meeting the tough trial qualifying times.
