On Saturday 27th August the splendid Mary Peter’s track was the scene for the annual Northern Ireland Veteran Athletic Association Track and Field Championship.     
Cathal McLaughlin managed to collect a gold medal in the M40 5000m track race, despite a comedy of errors. Cathal will take some stick for turning up in Antrim rather than Belfast for the race! With parades and traffic jams and a dash down the motorway, our man arrived after the race wasscheduled to start! Luckily the meeting was running late and Cathal just had time to get his number, get the famous purple vest and shoes on and head for the starting line.
To compound matters he then managed to lose his footing and fell flat on his face at the sound of the gun! Cathal eventually got started and slowly started to make progress from the rear of the field. He managed to make his way to the rear of a group of four athletes who trailed the guest Conor Magill of the North Belfast Harriers. The laps passed quickly at a testing, tough, fast pace. The heat of the day was high and was beginning to take its toll and as the race progressed the group reduced from four to two; Conor Curran of North Belfast Harriers leading with McLaughlin tucked in close behind. At the bell the tempo was agonisingly cranked higher. Both men strained every sinew to get home as Curran slowly pulled away. The lactate levels were heading off the chart and with just yards to go to the line and with pain etched on his face, Cathal lost control of his legs and fell off the track with fatigue. He dragged himself up and managed to haul himself over the line in third to claim the M40 title before collapsing from exhaustion in a new pb 16:14. Certainly not the text book way to race but a medal none the less!

Special mention to Philip Donaghy and Eoghan Furey of City of Derry who helped maintain the profile of North West Athletics on the day. Philip won the M40 400m and 800m double with Eoghan narrowly pipped for M35 gold by Mark Weir of NDAC. Great performances from the Spartan pair!
Next we look forward to Dessies 10k At Gransha grounds on 30th August at 7:30 for what is sure to be another great event in the racing calendar.

Results