North Down Open Meet
The club likes to mix it up a bit in the club championships, so for the penultimate event a formidable squad journeyed to the Bangor Sportsplex to participate in the NDAC hosted 3000m event.
In this event out of the 15 athletes competing 9 were Orangegrove, much to the surprise of the organisers in seeing a large orange grouping dominate a particular event. In fairly blustery conditions everybody got to their marks for the 7.5 laps of the track.
Upon starting, it was clear that there would be a tough fight at the front between NDAC athlete Dennis Scott and OAC athlete John Craig, with Brian Barron (NDAC) close behind. In the end John Craig secured a 4 second lead with a stunning time of 9.15.55. Thomas Leitch was second OAC to finish with a time of 10.37.61, and Graham McNabb 3rd on 10.49.33.
Remaining men times were
Stephen Orr 10.56.22
Brian Todd 12.04.30
Michael O’Donoghue 12.26.38
Alan Montgomery 12.51.45
In the ladies race, Jennifer Black dominated proceedings with a time of 10.50.22, some 40 seconds ahead of the 2nd placed lady. Jacqui Maxwell was 4th with a time of 12.53.53.
A good race, and several PB’s earned. A special mention should go to OAC track star Emma Smith who got a PB in the 200m event with a cracking time of 30.52.