Medal finish for all Les Jones 10K Runners!

20 April 2017

Medal finish for all Les Jones 10K Runners!

Zoe Carruthers (NI Athlete), Kerry O’Flaherty (NI Olympic Athlete), Glenn Grant (ChampionChip, Sponsor), Pam Brown (President, Athletics NI) and Emma Mitchell (NI Athlete).

Over the past 26 years, Athletics Northern Ireland has run the Les Jones Memorial 10K in May, as a remembrance for the late Athlete, Team Manager and Chairman Les Jones who passed away in 1992. This year’s Les Jones 10K promises to be the most exciting yet, as it is now introducing a medal finish for the first 400 10K runners who cross the finish line of the challenging route on Friday 12th May 2017 at the Mary Peters Track.

The Les Jones 10K will start at 7.30pm sharp on the Mary Peters track itself, promising for an exciting Friday evening between all those battling out the event. It will then take lead on to the Malone Road, where it is a relatively downhill run on a mainly flat course. However, this race is not for the faint hearted, as the route will see runners through the wetland, riverside meadows and the mixed woodlands of the Lagan Towpath at Drumbridge. Continuing on to Shaw's Bridge, Barnett's Park and QUB playing fields before tackling a killer of a hill to end this picturesque race, finally returning to finish on the Mary Peters Track.

Prior to the challenging Les Jones 10K route, there is also the opportunity for families to take part in the Les Jones 1K Fun Run. The 1K will start at 7pm on the dot and will be completed solely on the Mary Peters Track. To enter individually online for the 1K fun run there is an entry fee £5 and for a family of four it will cost £15.

John Allen, General Secretary of Athletics Northern Ireland, said, “The now traditional Les Jones 10k provides a varied and scenic route, a relaxed atmosphere and a novel start and finish on the Mary Peters Track. With hopefully fine weather we’re looking forward to an enjoyable evening’s competition.”

Last years winner, Philip Goss (North Belfast Harriers), maintained a narrow lead of 1 second towards the end of the 10K and made his way down the hill, onto the track and crossing the line in an impressive time of 33.57. Further to this, fellow North Belfast team mate Marc Jennings led the charge for second place with Dromore’s Stephen O’Gorman in pursuit, completing the final stretch around the Track at a notable pace. Marc won the race to the line and finished second in a time of 34.48 followed by Stephen in 34.53.

In the Women’s race Jodi Smith, North Down AC was the first woman home in 39.30 ahead of City of Lisburn’s Diane Watson in 40.08. Not too far behind was Cathy McCourt (an unattached athlete), who was the third placed woman in a time of 40.39.

As ever, all runners will receive a text message to their mobile phones once the race is over with details of their individual position, official times and category position from race Sponsors ChampionChip Ireland. A LED screen will display every runner’s name, race position and time once they cross the finish line.

There is a total prize fund of £420, with each 10K entrant receiving a special commemorative t-shirt, medal and a goody bag. Online entry fees are £13.00 for Athletics Club members, £15.00 to Unattached individual runners. However, don’t panic as you will still be able to register for the 10K on the night itself for a fee of £20 per entry. To register for the 1K fun run on the night, an individual entry fee will cost £7.50 and a family of four will cost £20.

If you would be interested in entering the Les Jones 10K, online entry is available at http://athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Les-Jones-Memorial-10k, where there will also be access to a race map and race information. The closing date for all online entries requesting a personalised bib is Monday the 1st of May 2017 at midnight and all further online entries will close on Monday the 8th of May 2017 at 5pm.