Giant’s Trail Race

Our friends at Dub Runners will host a very enjoyable Giant’s Trail 10k run on Friday evening, 31st July which we will be happy to support. Nessa Agnew and her friends, regulars at Victoria Park parkrun, did a very good job at selling this one to us. In the end most of us were afraid not to enter for fear of encountering the wrath of Nessa. The race will start on the playing fields above the old Dub pavilion and will take the runner on a rather complicated route through the Lagan Valley Regional Park and all that it has to offer in terms of scenery, trails, tracks, river, lake, forest, sites of antiquity and incline. It will be enjoyable nevertheless, and if we don’t get lost there will be tea, craic and whatever else in the magnificent new Queen’s University pavilion where the Runners’ are based. Can’t wait! Make sure you turn up! Nessa will be there with her clipboard and pencil to tick you off as you pass! There will definitely be a few ups and downs in this one as well. The weather forecast is not favourable, but sure it will be refreshing rain and we are used to it!

Well, down came the rain in torrents as we prepared for the off on the playing fields behind the old Dub pavilion. However, it was Friday evening and a bit of rain wasn’t going to put us off. Nevertheless, it was clear from the start that the downhill grassy bits would take a toll of those who were not wearing trail shoes. It was also clear that if you were anxious to keep your new trainers dry and clean, this was not the race for you. So, off we went, and some time later we arrived back at the start! The following are the Orangegrove times, although in all honesty time and position were not really important on this occasion:

Robin Montgomery 40.39 (16th/226)
Brian Todd 47.34
Michael O’Donoghue 47.57
Emma McWilliams 48.57
John Neill 49.17
Jill Holland 51.44
Gerald Harvey 52.04
Fintan Hurl 53.55
Trish Magill 54.51
Chantal Hemphill 55.23
Reg Sanlon 55.27
Alison Hall-Thompson 55.40
Sharon Corken 56.13
Ian Wilson 57.43
Verity Cornford 1.11.03
Linda Craig 1.11.03
Victoria Murray 1.11.04
Eoin Woodman 1.14.24

Absolutely superb running from Robin Montgomery who is achieving the kind of times at the moment of which good athletes of a much younger age would feel extremely proud. Great running too by three athletes who were wearing the orange vest for the first time, Chantal Hemphill, Alison Hall-Thompson and Ian Wilson. It would be important to point out to the three newcomers that this was, for them, a baptism of fire! Rarely are the 10k races we do so challenging and the weather conditions so unforgiving. Stick with it; it will all be downhill from this point!

Spare a thought for Emma McWilliams who fell heavily on the grassy descent below Malone House near the start. However, she picked herself up and proceeded with true Orangegrove grit and determination and, despite being in considerable pain, finished in 48.57, having had to run the majority of the race with a slightly sideways gait because of her injury. Jill Holland is running extremely well at the moment, storming home in a very respectable 51.44, just ahead of Gerald Harvey (as usual) in 52.04. Very well done too to Trish Magill, Sharon Corken and the other ladies.

Grateful thanks to the Dub Runners for organising such a super event. Not only did they provide us with a picturesque and challenging course, they marshalled it well and provided us with a veritable feast at the end of it all. Hopefully this race will be an annual occurrence and that we can pencil it in as an OAC Club Championship fixture.

The race was won by Neill Weir (Willowfield Harriers) in 35.51. Martsje Hell (North Belfast Harriers) was first lady in 41.56.

Thanks to NiRunning and Liz Leitch for the photos.