Write a commentNewry AC athletes all travelled South this week-end for their race events. The events varied from a 5k road race to a challenging 51km Ultra over the Wicklow mountains!
St. Oliver’s 5k, Dundalk
On a beautiful and sunny spring Saturday morning, Sarah Jane Beattie travelled to Dundalk to take part in the St. Oliver’s 5k Race.
Sarah Jane was in great running form and completed the event in 21:20. Out of a race field of 243 runners, Sarah Jane finished 48th overall and took a fantastic 4th Female placing.
The St. Olivers Plunkett Community Unit hosted this annual 5k event in aid of much needed funds for their unit. Supported by the Dundalk Credit Union the participants were treated to fantastic weather and a superb post race refreshments.
Maurice Mullins, 25km Trail and 51km Ultra Trail Races, Wicklow
3 Newry AC athletes took the journey south to the beautiful terrain of the Wicklow Mountains. One athlete (Aidan Murray) participated in the challenging 25km race whilst the remaining pair (Cathal McGreevy and Noel Carr) took on the demanding 51km Ultra!
Aidan Murray hit the Wicklow terrain this weekend to take on the Maurice Mullins 25.5 km Trail Race.
This race is named after its original creator, the late Maurice Mullins and is a qualifier for the Interceltic Trail Race. Starting in the lower Ballinatoe Car Park which join’s the Wicklow Way in Ballinastoe Forest the race remained in the Wicklow Way through the entire Glencree area.
The race had a climb of 971 metres and event difficulty of 7 but this did not slow down Aidan. He ran a strong race to finish in a time of 2:07 and a fantastic 14th overall placing out of field of 186
Cathay McGreevy and Noel Carr joined 237 competitors in the Maurice Mullins 51 km Trail Race.
With an event difficulty of 10, climb of 1,940 metres and distance of 51 kilometres, the two Newry athletes were glad of the sunny and dry weather conditions.
There were two variations from the old route as it no longer took the off-Wicklow Way shortcut between Curtlestown and Crone woods, but instead remained on the Wicklow way. The turnaround point has been moved down to the lower Ballinastoe woods car park. These changes resulted in an increase in the length of the route to a little over 50km, and approximatly 200 metres of additional climb.
Cathal McGreevy was first in for Newry AC in a time of 5:28:06, placing 55th overall and lifting 2nd in the M50 age category.
Noel Carr followed his team mate in for 62nd overall placing in a time of 5:29:43.
Fantastic running Aidan, Cathal and Noel and a big thank you to Ronan Mynes for his support.
Irish Orienteering Time Trials, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Meadow McCauley attended time trials in Phoenix Park, Dublin towards 2019 selection for the Irish Orienteering Squad. Meadow a current squad member lead her age group and had great performances technically and physically.
Meadow recorded the 3rd fastest Phoenix Park course time for her age group to date. The tough training plan that Newry AC coach Kookie O’Hagan has implemented is paying back in all Meadow’s running performances.
Saturday Mountain Training, Slieve Donard
The remaining Newry AC mountain crew stuck to home turf for a training run up Slieve Donard. Conditions were perfect for those putting some final miles and heights in before the start of the Hill & Dales series.
