U18 Trial – Tollymore Forest – 2:00pm 16 March 2024
Trial to select teams to represent N.I. & Ulster at the U18 International on 22nd June in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain.
With only 13 entries, the organisers had some concern that we would be unable to select a suitable team……however some research of the field, revealed an All Ireland XC silver medallist, plus 6 top 20 Ulster Schools athletes…….so there was to be no doubt about the calibre of the competition.
It would be interesting for a few senior athletes to throw down the gauntlet and see how close they could get to Evan Tosh’s 25:30 if they pick the route up on Strava…….please let me know if you give it a go!
Sadly, this quality field was to be greeted with incessant rain, so the organisers wisely moved the start/finish to the wooden shelter along the main path, something the parents most certainly approved off!
A big thankyou to Jonny Steede and his team of race markers…..no reports of issues and all athletes made it back without difficulty.
As indicated earlier, it was to be 14yr old Evan of Ballymena & Antrim AC who appeared first down the track, clocking a seriously impressive sub 26 for his first Hill race. The next 3 athletes didn’t disappoint either with all three coming in under 27 mins.
However, the girl’s race was to see the closest finish, with newcomer Mairi Clements again of Ballymena & Antrim AC getting the better of Aoife Magee, by just 12 seconds!
A huge thank you to all the parents and coaches who helped marshal and mark the course – very much appreciated.
N.I. & Ulster U18 Mountain Running Trial
Female U18
1
0:31:36
Mairi
Clements
Ballymena & Antrim AC
2
0:31:48
Aoife
Magee
Lagan Valley AC
3
Lyndsey
Kelly
Armagh AC
Male U18
1
0:25:30
Evan
Tosh
Ballymena and Antrim AC
2
0:26:22
Luke
O Doherty
Mid Ulster AC
3
0:26:26
Eoin
McConnell
North Belfast Harriers
4
0:26:59
Niall
McAufield
Lagan Valley AC
5
0:27:38
Tiarnan
McManus
St Michael & College AC
6
0:28:36
Oliver
Playfair
North Down AC
7
0:28:53
Euan
McIntosh
Newcastle AC
8
0:30:09
Caleb
Lewis
Jog Lisburn Running Club
9
0:33:32
Paraic
McGettigan
Finn Valley Ac
10
0:36:47
Karim
Jaidane
Newcastle AC
TEAM SELECTION
NIMRA can now announce the team selection based on the Trial held in Tollymore on Saturday.
Thank you to all the athletes who travelled to compete, we wish you all the best with your training and look forward to seeing you back at the trials being held mid summer for the U17 & U20 teams travelling to Wicklow to compete in the British & Irish Championships on the 14th Sep.
