Killinchy's International Cross Country Runner - Jim Kenmore on the Down about Down Podcast with Chris Scott
In this podcast Chris is in conversation with Jim Kenmore, a resident of the Killinchy area, County Down.
Jim, in his younger days, was a cross country runner with the Ballydrain Harriers in the late 1950s and early 1960s whilst working as a fitter in Comber Mill.
At about the age of seventeen he was encouraged to join the Harriers by Tom Cromie, and it wasn't long before Jim was making the headlines in the local press.
Jim talks to Chris about his early schooldays, training with Ballydrain Harriers, and his international trips to Lisbon and Brussels to compete against the best runners in Europe. Jim would eventually succumb to an injury and had to withdraw from the sport. He had many accolades under his belt prior to this point including Northern Ireland Youth, All Ireland Youth, Northern Ireland Junior, All Ireland Junior, 2nd in the English Junior and the Northern Ireland Senior.
The headlines and opening paragraph in Ireland's Saturday Night on 14th February 1959 read - "Kenmore streaks in 400 yards ahead. Jim Kenmore, the 18-year-old runner from Comber, proved beyond dispute he has the stuff champions are made of by winning the Northern Ireland Senior Cross Country Championship at Dundonald this afternoon. The frail-looking millworker who only weighs 8 stone, and never runs without his lucky red beret, is the true successor to the great Steve McCooke. No wonder they called him the lone ranger on the hilly course today for never in the eight mile race did he see any of his rivals in the 100 man field...."
An interesting listen!
For further information on Ballydrain Harriers go to:
https://www.ballydrainharriers.co.uk/about/
To get in touch with Down about Down podcast email: downaboutdown@outlook.com