WHEN Gareth King lines up for the Anglo-Celtic Plate (ACP) 100K British Isles Championships at the South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon on Sunday, he will do so knowing that, for the first time, the prestigious event at which he excels is happening right on his own doorstep.
It’s a home fixture for the 42-year-old father-of-four from Tandragee, who will have taken just 20 minutes to get to the venue.
King, who heads up the Northern Ireland and Ulster men’s team, sits proudly at the top of the British 100K rankings following a ninth place finish at the World Championships in Berlin last August.
His time of 6 hours 32 minutes 5 seconds was the fourth quickest ever by a British runner.
In fact, he has only run three 100K races, but each time has set a new Northern Ireland and Ulster record.
Earlier this month, he won the Portadown marathon in 2:25.
“Something different, isn’t it,” said King.
“Having the crowds there cheering me on and my own wee club Runwell supporting me.
“I’m not a million miles away from my best.
“I feel that there’s definitely more in there and I’m still learning how to race the distance.”
A battle royal is expected between King and England’s Ollie Garrod, who is in fine form having recently set a new world 40-mile record of 3:45:07 in Barry, Wales, beating a mark that had stood for 41 years.
The Irish are sending a strong line-up, with national championship medals up for grabs.
Like Gareth, it will be a home race for Barry McCarroll, who lives a stone’s throw away in Lurgan.
And Alex O’Shea, who’s run 32 marathons in all 32 Irish counties in just 16 days, will be running on what is his 49th birthday.
The women’s team race looks wide open, with Scotland hoping to improve on last year’s silver medal even without their national champion Jo Murphy.
Ireland will be without their record holder Caitríona Jennings, who had a stellar year in 2022, winning the European 50K Champs and taking a bronze at the World 100K Championships, including setting a world 40+ record.
They include in their ranks Tricia McLoughlin, who recently recorded new six and 12-hour Irish records.
Karla Borland will be flying in from her English base to spearhead the Northern Ireland team.
Two years ago, she finished fourth at the ACP in Mondello Park.
She was followed home that day by Jenny Elliott-York to secure bronze for the team and Jenny will be back in Craigavon to boost the home side.
