Now firmly established as one of the country’s premier road races it celebrates its10th birthday this year.
Scheduled for Sunday 15th March East Down officials promise that it will be bigger and better than ever with something to offer everyone, be they walkers, novices or more hardened runners. On Thursday night past the Club welcomed Mr Mal McGrady and Kieran Smyth of new primary sponsor M.B McGrady, Chartered Accountants to a photo call at Down Leisure Centre, together with existing Relay race sponsor Liam Keenan, as they announced details of this year’s races.
The Club has also been fortunate to secure the co-operation of Downe Travel Service in providing a mouth watering travel voucher to the value of £700 which will be the top prize in a draw open to all finishers in the Race and Walk. Nowhere else offers such a valuable incentive. Not only that but at least 2 overnight stays in local hotels will also be available in the draw – all winners will have to do is finish the event they enter AND be present in the Leisure Centre when the draw is made. What could be simpler.
And of course the same range of prizes as in previous years are on offer for overall winners and all category winners. The top prizes of £200 for both men and women can also be supplemented by £50 if new race records are set.
As well as the 10K race itself the popular 2 person Relay Team category will again be an option for those who cannot yet face the overall 6.2 mile distance, particularly the younger and novice runners – and of course a special welcome is extended to Walkers who turned out in great numbers last year.
The race/walk starts at the St Patrick’s Centre and follows the road along the back of the Grove Shopping Centre to exit on the Newcastle Rd opposite Flynn’s Filling Station, turns left past Bus Station up Market St, left into Irish St, left again up English St, past Museum along Mall and round the Cathedral, going up left hand side, back along Mall and left at Courthouse, along Mount Crescent, Bridge St downhill to Church St, left past filling station and straight through roundabout to War memorial, turn right along Strangford Rd and go all the way to Quay Rd, on past Quoile Castle to 2nd car park on left, turn left onto riverside path and left again back along path to Quoile Quay, turn right and remain on path to the junction with fishing area (large gate on right), cross road and onwards to Quoile Bridge, turn left onto Old Belfast Rd and proceed past Blackwater College (old Down Academy) to roundabout, straight through again, up Church St, past Town Hall, Irish St and turn right down Market St at Ulster Bank to finish outside what was Hogan’s Bar/Restaurant
for more information see www.spanglefish.com/eastdownac
Entry forms below
