To start the week Lindie Naughton brings us all the Irish endurance action and news from the weekend just gone (Monday 16th December).

Ultra runner Emma Stuart was not only first woman at the Winter Downs 200,  her time of 50 hrs 52 mins was a new women’s record.  Stuart finished just 32 minutes behind the overall winner Martin Wilson who came home in 50:20.01.

The Centurion Running Winter Downs 200, first held in 2023, is a 200 mile continuous trail run taking in a giant loop around the south of England, including the North Downs Way, Vanguard Way, South Downs Way, Wayfarers Walk and St Swithun’s Way. Runners have up to 96 hours to complete the course.

Hailing from Sligo in Ireland, Stuart is  based in Penrith, in England’s Lake District, where she works full time as a vet. Stuart, who’s aunt Heather was a pioneer of ultra running in Ireland.

Photo: Jamie Rutherford/Centurion Running

Cross country season in full swing

Craig McMeechan (North Down ) was the winner of the open 6km at the North West Cross-Country, Gransha, Derry on Saturday (December 14).

McMeechan finished in 20 mins 47 secs, comfortably clear of the chasers led by  his clubmate Mark Carberry in 21:19. Third in 21:34 was Tom Fleming (Loughview AC). Fourth and first M40 was Chris McGuinness (Foyle Valley) in 21:562.

Sixth and first U20 was Oliver Playfair (North Down)  in 22:30, with Tiarnan McManus (St Michael’s Enniskillen) a close second in 22:22. Ninth overall and first M50 in 22:29 was Martin McKenna (Armagh AC).

On a good day for the North Down club, Katie Moore  was first woman in 25:17.  Jennife Martin (Tafelta AC) was second in 25:26 and Angeline McShane (City of Derry Spartans) third in 25:56.  Fourth and first W45 was Denise Toner (Clones AC) in 26:01,  while fifth woman and first W50 was Karen Wilton (Jog Lisburn) in 26:53.   First junior woman as Aisling Smith (BAAC) in 27:07.

A total of 177 completed the race which was round six of the NI Cross-Country League. Three rounds remain, with the next round , the Mathieson Cup in Mallusk scheduled for Sunday January 12.

The fun of the handicap race

Winner of the Cork BHAA Simon Christmas 5km Handicap Run,  at Blackrock Hurling Club in Cork on Sunday (December 15) was Darragh Hughes who finished un 16:42. Eoin O’Keeffe was second in 16:43 and John Longan third in 17:02.

First woman in 18:42 was Emma Doyle followed by Kathleen Ryan in 20:23 and Lily Manning in 20:41. Correctly running his predicted time  to the exact second was  Paul Cleary who finished  in 19:49.

At the  second round of the Cloyne Commons Challenge 4km Winter Series also on Sunday, the winners were Nick O’Donoghue of East Cork AC in 12 mins 53 secs and Rebecca McEvoy of St Finbarr’s AC in 13:58. Second overall in 13:20 was junior athlete Matthew Mahony of Midleton AC.