Write a commentThursday 14th June - Drogheda and District Graded Meet
In blustery conditions, 4 Newry AC athletes travelled to Lourdes Stadium in Drogheda for the summer series graded track meet. The weather elements were not perfect due to the wind but thankfully the rain stopped for the racing.
In the mile race (1,600m), Lee Maginnis completed in a time of 5:19:30 and Sarah Jane Beattie in 5:58:00.
Next in the 400m with challenging winds in the last 250m, Sarah Jane Beattie finished in a time of 67.30 and Joanne McCauley followed with 70:9. Well done to Sarah Jane after running the mile race prior to the 400m.
Mark Malone lead the 3,000m strongly from the start and finished a time of 9:44:60.
Thursday 14th June - Hill and Dales, Meels Race
With a clockwise route over the ‘Meels’ and 4 Newry AC athletes took up its challenge. First summit of the race is Meelmore and followed by Meelbeg before the tricky and long descent back down to the Happy Valley finish line.
Weather was damp with some blustery winds but this did not deter Cathal McGreevy finishing 33rd, lifting 2nd MV50 with a time of 35:08. Rory Mulvaney roared in 39th with a time of 35:29; Ronan Mynes coming in 86th with a time of 40:19 and Coach Kookie finishing in 52:17.
The final race of the series is the popular and midgie invested ‘Drinahilly' next Friday night in Donard Park with awards celebrations afterwards.
Saturday 16th June - NI & Ulster Championships - Meadow Qualifies for All Irelands
Meadow McCauley competed in the NI & Ulster Championships held at the Mary Peter’s Track in at times challenging conditions with hail, rain and winds delaying some races but the sun made an appearance later in the day, thankfully. Meadow lifted a 3rd place, Bronze Medal, in the U16 250m Hurdles, a new race for Meadow this season.
Meadow also competed in the U16s 800m Race in which she had a tough and exhausting final 100m sprint battle to just miss out on the the bronze medal by a stride, finishing 4th.
Meadow with these performances has now qualified to go through for the All Irelands in Tullamore in July in the 250m Hurdles and the 800m.
Saturday 16th June - Lismore 5k
Lee Maginnis made the short journey to Craigavon to race in the Lismore 5k. Lee lifted 2nd place in a time of 18:44.
Sunday 17th June - Ballyholland Harps 5k - Ethan cruises in to top spot
Young Ethan Patterson flew round the Ballyholland Harps 5k race lifting 1st place in a time of 19 minutes. Martin Patterson (dad) followed in with a time of 23 minutes.
Sunday 17th June - NIMRA - Flagstaff to Carlingford Mountain Race - Esther wins strongly in Championship Race and Keiron Kelly takes 3rd
On race day of which in Coach Kookie’s words was “a day with the clouds around yer ankles” - navigation skills were required or if lucky enough runners could attach and follow a fellow runner who they hoped knew where they were going!
The race follows the ridge of the Cooley mountains to Slieve Foye and hence Carlingford. This gruelling race is 11 miles long, with over 3000 feet of climbing.
Esther Dickson having rested after securing her Hill & Dales Top Female 2018 last week, focused on winning this NIMRA Championship Race and was rewarded with First Female (8th overall) in a time of 2:08:35 with a lead of 10 minutes on the next female runner. Keiron Kelly lifted a fantastic podium 3rd place overall in the race in a time of 1:47:52 Paul LeBlanc was 9th overall in a time of 2:13:39 taking 1st MV55, Cathal McGreevy came 12th lifting 1st MV50 in a time of 2:18:57 and Rory Mulvaney followed in hot pursuit into 14th place in a time of 2:19:02. The Newry AC men lifted the team 1st place. Post Race entertained was supplied in Carlingford by fellow multi talented club runner John McCaffrey.
