GR8 Dundrum Run

The GR8 Dundrum Run (‘Not Your Average Road Race’) is a great favourite with many. This was the 6th running of the GR8. This event has a little bit of everything. The run starts in the centre of the village of Dundrum where the sense of community spirit adds to the occasion.

The route is superb. The runner heads south on the main road to Newcastle for a few hundreds yards before turning right on to Old Road to continue parallel with the main road for the section to the Twelve Arches Bridge over the Ballybannon River. This section of road, Old Road, contains the only significant hill on the route, but it is early on in the race and should present no real difficulty.

After the Twelve Arches Bridge the route is across the main Newcastle to Belfast road. You will not have to dodge the cars, however, as the police will stop the traffic to allow the runners to pass. Fine, as long as you are not a motorist! On the other side of the road you then enter the trail known as The Cut for a lovely one mile section along the side of an arm of the beautiful Dundrum inner bay. Just short of the Downshire Bridge there is a right turn along Keel Point Road towards Murlough House. Near the House the route takes you right on to undulating boardwalk down to the beach. The beach section is magnificent as long as the tide is right and you have sand on which to run. On this section the wind may be helpful or otherwise. The beach section is about two miles long. You will be able to see Newcastle in the distance.

At a point just short of the most northern extremity of the magnificent Royal County Down Golf Course you will be guided on to the boardwalk which will take you through Murlough National Nature Reserve to the car park on the main Newcastle Road. After that you take a sharp right turn for the long, fast sweeping section back to Dundrum where a warm village welcome will await you. You will then eventually make your way to the church hall for a spectacular array of sandwiches, cakes, buns, tea, coffee and soup. The prizes will be distributed at this point.

However, don’t worry if you are not in receipt of a prize. Your reward will be in knowing that you have competed in a really wonderful event over road, trail, boardwalk and beach. You will take away with you a warm inner glowing feeling and a medal to treasure. Hang it somewhere prominent and it will remind you on a daily basis of one of the most enjoyable days of your life!

A very large contingent of Orangegrovers made their way south to Dundrum on Saturday morning for the 11am start. For none was the journey more special than for Sarah Malcolmson who was brought up in the village and where her parents still live. Last year Sarah was a spectator at the race and vowed then to give it a go one day. Being a determined young lady she purchased a pair of trainers, began to run and eventually joined Orangegrove Athletics Club. Sarah will don the orange vest on the day and we wish her well in her hometown race. Rumour has it that she has already embarked on one or two recce runs on the route in preparation! Good running to everybody from Orangegrove. May the tide be out and the wind with you!

So, how did it go in the end for the Orangegrove contingent, fourteen in number? Very well, may I say, and I am glad to report that Ms. Malcolmson did herself proud on her home patch. The following are the times for both men and ladies:

Men

Andy McIntyre 52.54
Mark Williamson 59.04
Stephen Anderson 1.00.06
Martin O’Brien 1.01.16
Gerald Harvey 1.06.38
Martin Doherty 1.09.51
Ian Wilson 1.10.48
Eoin Woodman 1.31.46

Ladies

Heather Shanks-Miller 1.10.21
Alison Hall-Thompson 1.14.11
Sarah Malcolmson 1.18.54
Verity Cornford 1.19.35
Linda Craig 1.19.35
Catherine Fearon 1.24.46

Great running from every Orangegrover at Dundrum. Particular congratulations to Andy McIntyre on a fantastic time which secured 27th place overall out of the nearly 900 who ran. Mark Williamson too did extremely well to finish below the hour. Great running from Gerald Harvey, a senior citizen like myself, who did well to finish in 1.06.38, fifth gent home. Well done too to Stephen Anderson; Stephen, you will bag a sub hour time next year. Good running too from the two Martins, O’Brien and Doherty, and from the ever improving Ian Wilson.

Heather Shanks-Miller led the Orangegrove ladies home in 1.10.21, an excellent time and well done too to Alison Hall-Thompson who is a better runner than she thinks she is. Well done Sarah Malcolmson, once again. There was considerable club and local pressure on you to do the business, and you did. Sleep easy! Good running too from Verity, Linda and Catherine.

The GR8 Dundrum Run was won by Andrew Annett (North Belfast Harriers) in 45.29. Breege Connolly (North Belfast Harriers) was first lady in 49.09.