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Donnelly and Taggart
Noel Duddy Chartered Account noel.duddy@btopenworld.com
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1st Feb 2013 GRANSHA READY TO HOST NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS ON SUNDAY One of the biggest cross country championship events of the season the National Juvenile Development, Masters and Intermediates, is set to bring in excess of 1000 athletes to the Gransha Grounds this Sunday,when the twelve race programme featuring participants from all over the country,will run between 11 30am and 4pm. more 27th Jan 2013 SPARTAN SIX SCORE IN LURGAN What a nail biting experience at Lurgan yesterday,
a real old fashioned ding dong between three NW clubs as the
Spartans heroically saw off an immense race long challange
from neighbours and rivals, Finn Valley and Foyle Valley to
regain the much coveted NI/Ulster Junior/Intermediate XC mens
team title. 27th Jan 2013 SPARTANS DISAPOINTED WITH MENS TEAM BRONZE Ireland's Fionnuala Britton and Thomas Akeyo of Uganda were emphatic winners of the respective senior womens and mens races at Saturday's Antrim International cross country meeting as the massed spectators were treated to a highly entertaining eleven race programme with local athletes also making their presence felt, as young Aela Stewart of Broadbridge PS finished joint first in the Girls Primary schools race and the City of Derry Spartans mens squad grabbed team bronze in the NI/Ulster senior championships behind perennial rivals St Malachys and Annadale Striders. more 15th Dec 2012 NORTH WEST CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP Results Results here 9th Dec 2012 NORTH WEST CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP Poster for next weekend's North West Cross Country Championships here. Chance for all levels of runners to try cross country running. 29th Oct 2012 SPARTANS TOP ANI CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE STANDINGS..........NINE LOCAL QUALIFIERS FOR NATIONAL JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIPS Local runners were prominent at Saturday's NI/ Ulster Juvenile cross country championships and Bobby Rea open races, staged in sunny and dry Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor County Down, with nine age group qualifiers for next months All Irelands and team success for both the male and female City of Derry Spartans senior squads, kicking off their challange for the 2012/13 NI cross country League in fine style. more 29th Oct 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS COUNTRY ACTION THIS WEEKEND Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor hosts the first championship cross country of the season tomorrow Saturday when the NI/ Ulster Juvenile even age group deciders will be staged alongside the opening round races in the Athletics NI cross country League. Local runners will travel to contest both the Juvenile and Open races in a packed programme with Provincal honours realistic targets for several of the top young local athletes. more 29th Oct 2012 ANOTHER DERRY DUO FOR MASTERS INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY NEXT MONTH Dungarvan native David McCarthy who has close North West connections through his uncle Declan McCarthy and the 2010 National Inter Counties winner in Gransha, Fionnuala Britton, were emphatic individual winners at Sunday,s Gerry Farnham cross country meeting in Dublin but the local interest was focussed on Christy McMonagle and Roisin Lynch who were chasing places in the Irish squads for next month''s Masters International in Belfast. more 29th Oct 2012 LOCAL MASTERS ATHLETICS SET FOR INTERNATIONAL DUTIES Local runners were prominent at both of the wekend's big events in Belfast and Armagh, with Anne Paul yet again grabbing a podium place at Sunday's Armagh 10 mile road race while Keith Shields, James Brown and Jackie McGinley led the charge at Saturday's NI Masters Open cross country race in the Queens University Malone grounds as several locals clinched places on the NI Masters squads for next months International. more 29th Oct 2012 BRADLEY AND MCGLYNN IMPRESS AT MARTY'S RUN Connor Bradley and Lifford AC's Ann Marie McGlynn were impressive winners at a well supported Martys 5K Run on a sunny Sunday morning, posting excellent 14m 52s and 18m 22s clockings as close to 500 finishers were recorded over the Glengalliagh / Buncrana Road circuit. more 29th Oct 2012 NO JOY FOR GREG IN BERLIN Among a spate of weekend race action, Greg Roberts at the Berlin Marathon was the high profile event, but unfortunately the Spartan will want to draw a veil over his performance as he clocked a below par 2hrs 26m 05s for a hugely disappointing 32nd place finish, way behind the impressive winner Geoffrey Mutai's 2hrs 04m 15s. more 29th Oct 2012 BRADLEY AND BOGLE IMPRESS AND GRANSHA NAMED AS 2013 NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE Some good local performances from the weekend as Connor Bradley was a convincing winner at Sunday's Donegal 5K road championships in Convoy and Allan Bogle did well for the runners up spot in Saturday's gruelling 26K O' Brien Challange at Lough Fea. The residents of Eglinton meantime, also performed well, turning out in style to welcome their Paralympian hero Jason Smyth as he was paraded around the vilage and took on twelve local Primary school pupils in a special sprint challange. more 29th Oct 2012 RAIN FAILS TO DAMPEN DUNCAN'S FOUR IN A ROW AT WATERSIDE HALF MARATHON Sunday's 31st staging of the Waterside Half Marathon saw a record turn out at the Gransha grounds as in excess of 1500 participants, tackled the 13.1 mile Half Marathon, the 10 Mile Challange Walk and the 2k Family Fun Run, and despite the persistent rain for much of action, there was a real buzz around the Derry City Council organised annual event. more 2nd Sept 2012 Jason is the fastest paralympian on the planet! Ireland's and City of Derry Spartan's Jason Smyth became the world’s fastest Paralympian on Saturday when he broke his own world record to win the men's 100-metre T13 final at the London 2012 Paralympics. Jason clocked 10.46sec to break the 10.54sec world record he set in Friday's qualifying heats. Congratulations from all at CoD Spartans. We are very proud of you! 31st Aug 2012 SPRINTER SMYTH IN LONDON........DISTANCE MEN IN GALWAY Jason Smyth begins his defence of his Bejing double sprint gold tonight at the London Paralympics while in Athenry on Sunday, City of Derry and Foyle Valley mens squads will challange for individual and team honours in the National Half Marathon championships. more 20th Aug 2012 FEMALE SPARTANS PROMOTED TO PREMIER DIVISION AND MASTERS MEDALS WON IN TULLAMORE Tullamore proved to be a rewarding weekend venue for local athletes as the City of Derry Spartans womens squad clinched promotion to the 2013 National League Premier division after a hard earned runners up finish in Sunday's Division 1 final and twenty four hours earlier there were National Masters golds from Eoghan Furey and Cathal McLaughlin and a double from Danea Herron. more 27th July 2012 BALINISKA STAGES SUCCESSFUL FUREY INSURANCES 5K SERIES FINALE MCGINTY AND CAMPBELL WIN ON THE NIGHT.........RANKIN
AND CAMPBELL TAKE OVERALL SERIES HONOURS 2nd July 2012 HANNAH'S EPIC 100 MILER AND LOCAL MASTERS SHINE IN BANGOR Local athletes were to the fore at a variety of venues in recent days with success at the NI Masters track and field championships in Bangor on Saturday,an Ultra run podium finish for Hannah Shields in England and from last Thursday, excellent individual wins for Keith Shields and Marina Campbell at the annual Jude Gallagher 10 mile road race in Limavady. more 28th
June 2012
NO JOY FOR JASON IN HELSINKI. SPRINTER STILL SEEKING OLYMPIC
QUALIFYING. A 10.47s fourth place finish in the heats of the European championships in Helsinki on Wednesday morning saw Jason Smyth safely through to the sprint semi final later that evening, but the next outing unfortunately saw the local sprinter bow out, his 10.52s seventh spot finish not enough to make the eight man final. He was very disapointed with his performance in the semi, he was targeting a time close to the Olympic qualifying standard of 10.18s and certainly thought he could have run faster than his heat time. more 31th May 2012 Freddie's Winning Irish Streak Continues With New Course Record Buncrana 5K Victory Local Marathon star Greg Roberts Kenyan house guest, Freddie Keron Sittuk continued his domination of the local road race scene with a highly impressive Buncrana 5K victory on Wednesday evening, storming to a facile victory in spanking new course record figures of 14m 18s and Marina Campbell of host club City of Derry Spartans was an equally impressive winner of the womens race, posting a new PB of 18m 12s. more 25th May 2012 Buncrana 5km 2012 Preview Next Wednesday the 30th of May sees the 9th annual Buncrana 5km road race and fun run. Over the years, this race has established itself as one of the best 5k's in the NW due to the excellent course for those chasing that elusive PB (personal best). The race is the 3rd race in the popular Furey Insurances 5k Series which City of Derry Spartans AC have been organising for the last 12 years. This series is a real cross border affair with 4 races taking place in Derry and 2 just across the border in Inis Eoghain, Donegal. The series and indeed, this race, is generously sponsored by Sean Furey Insurances Ltd who have offices in Buncrana and Carndonagh. Donegal, like the rest of the country is experiencing a real running boom at the moment and the Buncrana 5k is also race 7 of the immensely popular Donegal Grand Prix Road Race Series which consists of no less that 38 road races during the summer. more 20th May 2012 Kenyan Takes Lisnagelvin 5K Honours Despite Strong Local Challange Fresh from his 2hrs 21mins Belfast Marathon fifth place run on Monday, visiting Kenyan runner Freddie Keron Sittuk turned out at Wednesday's Lisnagelvin 5K to lead home a large field of local runners with a 15m 04s winning effort. The free striding African had to work hard however to shake off the attentions of Foyle Valley's Scott Rankin who pressed hard for a 15m 19s runners up spot with Noel Logan of promoting club City of Derry posting 15m 36s in third place. more 8th
May 2012
Furey Series Race 2, Lisnagelvin 5K On Wednesday Night
Race two in the Furey Insurances 5K series is in Lisnagelvin tomorrow night Wednesday May 9th at 7 30pm and should attract another decent turnout. With individual sponsorship from the adjacent Longs Super Valu franchise the £400 plus prize fund will draw the top local club runners as well as the regular input of joggrs and fun runners who support the popular local race series. The three lap Lisnagelvin course is tailor made to maximise spectator input and the action right throughout the field should be well worth catching. more 20th April 2012 BIG FIELD, BIG RUNS AT BAY RD 5K AS SPARTANS CLAIM NI TEAM TITLES Wednesday nights Bay Road 5k opened this year's Furey Insurances race series in fine style, with the big field putting on a super show over the spectator friendly, three lap course along the banks of the Foyle. Declan Reed, Scott Rankin and Emmet McGinty battled away upfront before Reed went clear late on to win in 15m 11s, six seconds ahead of Rankin with McGinty a further five secons behind. North Belfast star Cathy McCourt took the womens honours in 18m 12s, ahead of local duo Marina Campbell, 18m 33s and Anne Paul on 19m 08s. Local clubs dominated the team races with the Spartans claiming both NI championship team titles, Foyle Valley took both team silvers and the red vests second strings took both team bronzes. more 10th
April 2012
ATHLETICS NI 5K ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS LAUNCH FUREY INSURANCES
2012 SERIES
The City of Derry Spartans organised 2012 Furey Insurances 5K Series, kicks off on Wednesday evening 18th April on the flat, fast Bay Rd circuit, with the significant added impetus of hosting the Athletics NI 5K road championship. more poster here 17th
March 2012
GREEN FOR GO AT St Patricks's WEEKEND 5K IN GRANSHA
Saint Patrick certainly turned over the warm
side of the stone at Gransha today with the annual 5K race
run off in beautiful sunshine, blue skies, no wind and on
a new, much improved course, the impressive turout of spectators
were treated to a some terrific performances by the record
144 finishers. 22nd
Jan
2012
SPARTANS SCORE IN ANTRIM, GLASGOW AND NENAGH
Local athletes were in weekend action at Antrim, Glasgow and Nenagh and successfully flew the flag for the city at all three venues.Connor Bradley notched an impressive Indoor 1500 metres victory at the Scottish National Open championships in Glasgows Kelvin Hall on Saturday while his male and female clubmates were grabbing team bronze medals at the NI/Ulster senior cross country championships in Antrim. Rounding off the weekend Claire Dougherty and Mark McGarvey both picked up National Junior Indoor medals on Sunday, way down in Nenagh. more 16th
Jan
2012
Danea's Double Irish Masters Gold Headlines Indoor Impact
For Spartans
Congratulations to a posse of our track/field specialists who started 2012 in fine style with significant Indoor performances in Nenagh and Jordanstown over the weekend. more 16th Jan 2012 Reed Selected For NI Squad This Weekend In Antrim Unfortunately there was no local interest at Saturdays Moira cross country meeting as Provincial Novice champion Connor Magill of North Belfast and Julie Turley of the host club Dromore AC, took the male and female honours respectively. Indeed the county Down event ,only a week ahead of this Saturdays Provincial senior championships in Antrim failed to atract significant numbers as clearly for many, the powder was being kept dry for this weekend at the Greenmount College grounds. more 9th Jan 2012 Reed Retains Provincial Masters Individual Title: City of Derry Win Masters Team Gold and Foyle Valley Junior Team Silver An unchallanged gun to tape victory for defending champion Declan Reed, saw the superb Spartan easily retain his Provincial Mastersl cross country individual title at Scotstowm in Monaghan on Saturday and lead the classy red vests "A" squad to a comprehensive team win ahead of Finn Valley and defending champions Annadale Striders. Individual silver medallist Colin Roberts, Paddy Mhor Doherty 4th and Paul McCafferty 15th, completed the successful quartet as the Spartans big guns simply blew away the opposition on a sticky Scotstown circuit. more 2nd Jan 2012 Bradley Blasts To Greencastle 5 Victory The two North West St Stephens Day road races in Stranorlar and Greencastle Co Tyrone ,between them saw over 1500 finishers and local athletes were prominent at the sharp end in both. The in form Connor Bradley added the Greencastle 5 mile individual title to his growing competitive CV, striding home ahead of former winner Stephen Duncan of Omagh Harriers and Spartans team mate Greg Roberts, after an absorbing duel on the testing Greencastle course. This trio were the class acts in the large field and finished comfortably clear of the chasing pack including an excellent seventh place finish for the teenage Spartan JP Williamson. more 2nd Jan 2012 Spartans Move Into Challanging Positions In Athletics NI Winter League Following their magnificient showing at last weekends NW cross country meeting in Gransha the City of Derry Spartans mens and womens senior squads have both moved into second spot in the Athletics NI Winter cross country League and with two scoring races remaining the red vests are now serious challangers for overall honours more 2nd Jan 2012 CONNOR LEADS SPARTAN PHALANX TO GRANSHA CROSS COUNTRY SUCCESS City of Derry Spartans Connor Bradley stormed to an impressive win at Saturdays NW cross country 6K race in the Gransha grounds, leading the 111 finishers,including a phalanx of the local red vests to a facile mens team success as the Spartans provided an unpreceedented first seven across the line, and their womens squad, fronted by Catherine Lilburn added the female team honours to notch an impressive double. more 14th December 2011 THE SPARTANS WELCOME ALL COMERS TO SATURDAYS NW CROSS COUNTRY Its Wednesday afternoon, December 15th, its dry, bright and sitting at 7/8 degrees centigrade and i,ve just come back from a 30 minute run around the course to be used at this Saturdays NW XCountry meeting in Gransha. more 14th December 2011 Juveniles Off the Pace in Kildare....Bogle Wins in Cookstown The City of Derry Spartans juveniles found it tough at the uneven age group championships in Kildare and despite giving it their all in the four races contested came home without any silverware. The boys and girls U17 squads produced the best efforts on a day of red hot competition, Shane McGowan 14th and Matthew Folland 25th in the boys race and Amy Jackson 20th in the girls event. They will now re focus and turn out at the Juvenile races this Saturday in Gransha before cranking up the training or the Schools and clubs races in the New Year. more 14th December 2011 National Novice Success For Male Spartans And Derry County Squad The local mens squad at the weekend National Novice cross country championships in Kildare, produced a magnificient collective performance to come away with a brace of medals as the City of Derry Spartans team claimed club silver and boosted by their Foyle Valley neighbours, the Derry lads stormed to Inter County bronze behind the powerul Dublin and Cork selections. more 14th December 2011 Reed’s Winning Run At Malcolm Cup Declan Reed’s perfectly paced run took him to an impressive individual Malcolm Cup cross country success last Saturday in Ballyclare and with excellent support from Greg Roberts 3rd, Emmett McGinty 5th and an eye catching breakthrough effort from the 7th placed Noel Logan, the Spartans added the team honours, comfortably ahead of Willowfield and North Belfast Harriers. more 23rd November 2011 Rankin Wins Local Battle At Joe Seeley 10K McMonagle Grabs Another Irish Age Group Record Meath athlete Anthony Ledwith led home the 800 plus field at Saturdays Joe Seeley 10K road race in Ormeau Park, his 30m 47s wining time just pipping Annadale Striders Paddy Hamilton by one second with Mullingar Harrier Mark Christie not far behind on 30m 55s, completing the indivual NI 10K championship medallists. more 10th November 2011 Are you drinking smart?! Dehydration by as little as 2% can negatively affect both mental and physical performance, especially during endurance-based events. Prepared to risk it? When you train, sweating is non-negotiable, as it helps your body to remove the heat produced during exercise to help manage your body’s temperature. Unfortunately this heat loss occurs at the expense of fluids and electrolytes (salts), which then need to be replaced. To ensure you perform at your best day in, day out, get your hydration right before, during and after exercise. To understand how and why drinking is so important, download the first of many nutrition articles by Lucozade Sport Scientist Emma Gardner, on hydration strategies. here 10th November 2011 Congratulations Aileen Congratulations to Aileen Morrison who has been selected as the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month for October. The local woman who combines membership of City of Derry Spartans and the North West Triathlon club as well as a background with the City of Derry Swimming club has almost certainly guaranteed her place in the Irish Triathlon squad for next years London Olympics. A second place finish at last months World Cup Triathlon in South Korea on top of two earlier fourth placers in Mexico and Japan boosted her to an Olympic qualifying position of 11th in advance of London 2012. With the top ranked 55 females set to compete in London her participation is all but guaranteed, so very well done Aileen and all the best for next year 10th November 2011 Aoifes Silver Heads Spartans Ulster Juvenile Medal Haul In Belfast As expected a City of Derry Spartans talented juvenile squad produced some excellent performances at the Provincial uneven age groups championships in Belfast on Saturday, with a magnificient Girls U15 silver for Aoife Laverty,inter club team silver and bronze for the Boys and Girls U17 squads and an inaugral All Ireland qualification in the Boys U13 category from young Mark McCloskey. more 11th September 2011 Duncan Wins Waterside Three In A Row In Terrible Conditions The wet and windy conditions may have slowed finishing times and severely tested the runners, walkers, officials and spectators, but around 1500 participants turned out for the 30th staging of Sundays Waterside Half Marathon in the Gransha grounds to brighten up a miserable day and cock a snoot at the tetchy weather gods. more 9th September 2011 Waterside Half Marathon Celebrates 30 Successful Years This Sunday Duncan and Paul Face Strong Challenges To Defence Of Titles Sunday morning next will bring in excess of 1500 runners and walkers to the Gransha grounds for the 30th staging of the Waterside Half Marathon with participants having the choice of the classic 13.1 mile race distance, the new 10 Mile Walk Challenge or the 2K Family Fun Run. more 9th September 2011 Commonwealth Selection for Mark and New York Win for Cathal While the Waterside Half Marathon will dominate the local athletics weekend action there is life elsewhere as young City of Derry Spartans talent Mark McGarvey is in the Isle of Man for the Commonwealth Youth Games. The St Josephs student is part of the NI team at the prestigious games which showcase the best U 18,s from all Commonwealth countries. more 4th September 2011 National Half Marathon Age Group Golds For McKinney and McMonagle Two road race results of local significance to report, Sundays National Half Marathon championships in Waterford anf last Thursday nights Run the Bann 5K and an update on this weekends Waterside Half Marathon. more 4th September 2011 Waterside Half Marathon Many runners at Wednesdays Dessies Run in Gransha will be back there in just over a weeks time for the 30th staging of the Waterside Half Marathon and the biggest race in the North West certainly was a popular topic of conversation at the post race awards ceremony earlier this week. more 4th September 2011 Bogle Makes Commonwealth Team and Young Spartans in Sheffield Congratulations to Allan Bogle who has been confirmed on the NI team for the Commonwealth Mountain Running championships in Wales at the end of September. The City of Derry athlete clinched selection for the five man 12K squad on the back of an impressive third place finish at Saturdays Donard race and a couple of earlier shorter distance wins. He will hope to improve significantly before the championships and will target the NI kingpin Des Woods of Mourne Runners on the testing up and down North Wales course. more 30th August 2011 Roberts and McCambridge Grab The Dessies Run Honours Wednesday nights Dessies Run 10K in the Gransha grounds attracted close to 200 entries and in very good running conditions served up a top class event, as Greg Roberts reprised his 2011 win with an impressive 30km 49s victory and Letterkennys Maria McCambridge clocked a classy 33m 41s for a runaway win in the womens race. more Results here, 21st July 2011 Rankin and Crossan Top The Baliniska 5K Finishers As Furey Insurances 5K Series Concludes Scott Rankin impressed yet again with a 15m 47s winning run at Wednesday nights Baliniska 5K, his third victory of the 2011 Furey Insurances race series and the Foyle Valley man duly took the coveted Overall honours ahead of third placer on the night Noel Logan,whose 16m 12s left him ten seconds adrift of his City of Derry clubmate Gary Slevin who posted his best ever finish in the series. more Photos added 21st July 2011 Weekend Athletics Roundup Tullamore on Saturday hosts the second and final leg of the 2011 National Juvenile track and field championships and with a batch of medals already secured from a few weeks ago at the same venue hopes are high that some more silverware will be brought Foyleside from tomorrows action. more 19th July 2011 Furey Insurances 5K Series Finale on Wednesday Night The sixth and final race in the Furey Insurances 5K series concludes the 2011 action tomorrow night Wednesday 20th July on the two lap Baliniska circuit with the Sports Complex once again the race HQ. Entries will be taken there from 6pm on the night for the race start at 7 30pm. The Post race Awards and refreshments will be at 8 30pm approx back at the Complex. more 19th July 2011 Schools International Medals in Cardiff But Delight and Dismay in Dublin A weekend of highs and lows for local athletics with Anna Barr and Ryan McParland medalling at the Schools International in Cardiff as the Irish squad finished runners up to a strong English team; the City of Derry Spartans women and the Olympian men were in Dublin booking their places in the National League Division 1 Finals next month; Emmet McGinty was an impressive winner of Thursday nights Coleraine 10K and Greg Roberts finished a close up fourth in the Phoenix Park in the Irish Runner 5 mile classic, but there was also bitter disapointment for the Spartans mens squad in Dublin who slumpede to relegation from the Premier Division of the National League. more 30th June 2011 Rankin Outlasts Murphy in Carndonagh 5K Head to Head Foyle Valleys Scott Rankin and Brendan Murphy of City of Derry Spartans went head to head at Wednesday nights Carndonagh 5K,race number five in the Furey Insurances series with the Valley runner stretching clear on the long uphill to the finish in the town square,hitting the line in an impressive 15m 27s,nine seconds clear of the red vest on 15m 36s with Inishowen AC,s M40 Joe McKinney clocking 16 02s for third place. The womens honours went to Helena Crossan of the home club in a swift 18m 17s with the Spartans Catherine Lilburn next in a new PB of 19m 27s and Foyle Valleys improving Martina McMullan also claiming new PB figures of 19m 53s in third. more 24th June 2011 Tailteann Games In Dublin.....Carndonagh 5K in Donegal On Wednesday evening 29th its back to Inishowen for race 5 in the Furey Insurances series with the Carndonagh 5K set to pull yet another massive turnout. Race HQ will once again be the Carndonagh Community School and entries will be taken there from 6pm for this one. The Carn race is sponsered by Atlanfish and is the penultimate race in the Furey series, the final event is on Wednesdt 20th July on the Baliniska circuit with race HQ at the nearby Templemore Sports Complex. more 24th June 2011 Kenyan Experience 3, Births, Niggles and Core Work! Third report from Greg here 24th June 2011 DUNREE 5K ROAD RACE, FUN RUN AND WALK 2011 The successful first staging of the Dunree 5k in aid of Dunree FC and iCARE was held on Wednesday evening at St Egney’s Park in Dunree set in the scenic backdrop of Lough Swilly. The forecasted showers held off for the duration of the race while the big turnout of nearly 180 competitors got down to business. more 24th June 2011 Young Athletes League Rd 3 Confirmed results from Round 3 at both Magherafelt
and Mary Peters Track. Also the finishing total points record
is attached. 19th June 2011 Jason Smyth in European League Action---Hot Home Weekend Competition From top European action in Turkey, through some classy middle distance competition in Dublin, to a fast Lifford 5K road race and in Antrim the NI/Ulster Juvenile championships,local athletes were busy over the weekend. Jason Smyth was in Izmir in Turkey with the Irish senior squad for the vital European League 1 match and despite expressing disappointment with his fourth place100m performance, the Eglinton man still scored significant points in the individual 100m and the Sprint Relay, contributing well to Irelands tenth place finish and retention of a place in the division for 2013.Donegal athletes Darren McBrearty and Mary McLoone were also in the Irish team and contributed to the collective effort. more 19th June 2011 Kenyan Experience 2, Rain, motorbikes and cattle! Second report from Greg here 16th June 2011 Kenya Calling, an update from our man in Iten! A report from the home of running. Greg Roberts updates us on how his training is going in Kenya. Read here. 16th June 2011 Smyth With The Irish Team In Turkey A week on from the wind and rain of New York Jason Smyth will be in Turkey this weekend with the Irish squad for the European Team championship where he will go in the 100m and in the sprint relay. Hopefully the weather will be kinder than last weekend when the unseasonal conditions ruled out fast sprinting at New Yorks Diamond League meeting where even the in form Tyson Gay failed to break 10secs for the short sprint. more 16th June 2011 Dunree 5k New race in Dunree outside Buncrana. The race is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 22nd June. Regisration is from 6pm in the Dunree FC clubhouse which is opposite the star of the sea chapel. Proceeds are in aid of Dunee FC and iCARE. Believe it or not we have managed to keep the hills to a minimum on what should be a quick course. Contact Malcolm Magee 087 7607270. poster here 16th June 2011 Weather The Winner As Declan Reid Claims NI/Ulster 5000m Title The weather argueably was the real winner over the weekend as athletes both home and abroad found the unseasonal conditions just as difficult as their opposition. Jason Smyth,s Diamond League debut in New York was a far cry from the balmy conditions he experienced in the Bahamas last month when setting his new Ni 100m record of 10.22s, a strong New York headwind on Saturday afternoon saw the Eglinton man labour to a 10.60s clocking in a race won in 10.50s!.more 9th June 2011 McGinty and Paul In Command At Culmore 5 Despite the poor weather 100 runners turned out for Wednesday nights Culmore 5K, the fourth race in the Furey Insurances series and they were led home in 16m 04s by City of Derrys Emmet McGinty with his clubmate Anne Paul clocking 18m 48s to claim the womens race honours. more 4th June 2011 Furey Insurances Series race 4 - Culmore The race HQ for next Wednesdays Culmore 5K has been moved to Hollybush Primary School on Arden Road and entries wil now be taken there from 6pm for both the 5K and the 1K Fun Run which will preceed the main event. The Culmore race is the fourth in the Furey Insurances is sponsored by Joe Jackson Ice Cream Parlours and expects to attract around 100 participants. poster here 4th June 2011 Hillview 4 Miler Pius McIntyre was an emphatic winner of Wednesday nights Hillview 4 Mile road race out of Brooke Park Leisure Centre,clocking an impressive 22m 47s for the victory on a welcome, beautiful night for running. The Foyle Valley man finished well ahead of clubmates Paddy Nicell and Ryan Snodgrass who battled hard to decide the minor placings,clocking 23m 21s and 23m 30s respectively. more 31st May 2011 Young Athletes League The points totals from the first two YAL
rounds at Antrim and Magherafelt have just come to hand and
make good reading for the two local clubs. Holders City of
Derry Spartans are in pole position with a total of 1427 points,comfortably
ahead of nearest challangers Regent House whose 1205 points
puts them just in front of City of Lisburns 1149. Olympian
are fourth with 900 points with former kingpins Lagan Valley
fifth on 848 points. 31st May 2011 City of Derry Athletes in the Laim Ball Triathlon Just a quick note to inform you of the club's participation at the Liam Ball Triathlon. more 25th May 2011 Wind Blows Buncrana 5K Records Off Course as nearly 300 Runners Defy the Elements The wet and windy weather abated somewhat to allow Wednesday evenings Sean Furey Insurances Buncrana 5K to enjoy dry conditions but the strong headwind off Lough Swilly on the first 2.5K, effectively ruled out any course record bids despite very impressive winning runs from Donegal duo, Letterkennys Ciaran Doherty and Finn Valleys Teresa McGloin at the head of the almost 300 strong field. more 22nd May 2011 Buncrana 5k Update Tomorrow nights Buncrana 5K road race is all set to welcome a record number of participants and all concerned are keeping their fingers well and truly crossed that the weather will be conducive for another classic outing at the popular Inishowen event which starts on St Marys Road at 7 30pm. more 22nd May 2011 JASON SCORCHES TO NEW NI 100m RECORD IN SUNNY FLORIDA Local athletes saw action on two continents over the weekend, Florida, Gothenburg and Antrim were the venues and the big story was Jason Smyth scorching to a new NI 100 mertres record of 10.22secs at the NTC Classic in sunny Florida, beating his own previous figures of 10.32secs set last June at the NI championships in Antrim. Gregory Roberts meantime was in Sweden for the Gothenburg Half Marathon where he ran 68m 12secs for 24th place in a race dominated by African athletes, Albert Kiplegat winning in a world class 60m 52secs. Finally Antrim hosted the Ulster Schools Track/Field championships and Derry athletes were prominent on the medals podium with the double golds from Thornhills Anna Barr and Lumen Christis Jack McCloskey the stand out performances.more 18th May 2011 RECORDS TO TUMBLE AT BUNCRANA 5K NEXT WEDNESDAY? Records look set to tumble at next Wednesday nights Buncrana 5K, race three in the popular Furey Insurances Series, as the Inishowen seaside town expects to host a large crowd with Joe McAlisters 14m 40s mens course best under serious threat. more 17th May 2011 Jason Back With A Bang In The Bahamas Florida based sprint star Jason Smyth,made a significant return to competitive action over the weekend in the balmy heat of the Bahamas,posting excellent early season clockings of 10.50s and 21.11s for the 100m/200m, as the local Eglinton Flyer put some ten months away from racing well and truly behind him in the Caribbean. more 11th May 2011 Rankin and Crossan Dominate at Lisnagelvin 5K Close to 120 runners lined up on a wet and windy Wednesday evening for the Lisnagelvin 5K,the second in the Furey Insurances Series and the 2010 winner, Foyle Valleys Scott Rankin, saw off a strong challange from City of Derrys Noel Logan and Sperrin Harrier Chris McPeake to retain his grip on the title with a gutsy 15m 54s effort in the difficult conditions. more 10th May 2011 Furey Insurances 5K Series.....Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre Hosts Race 2 on Wednesday Night..11th May Race 2 in the City of Derry Spartans organised Furey Insurances 5K Series,is set to attract another bumper entry this Wednesday 11th May on the three lap Lisnagelvin circuit in Derry,s Waterside. Start time is 7 30pm and entries will be taken from 6pm at race HQ in the Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre. more 4th May 2011 1500M BRONZE fOR BRADLEY IN ANTRIM.......NORTH WEST 10k WIN FOR GREG ROBERTS Victory in Letterkenny,s North West 10K for Gregory Roberts and and an Irish Universities 1500 metres bronze for Connor Bradley in Antrim,were the local weekend athletics highlights as once again City of Derry Spartans athletes mixed it with the best on road and track. more 26th April 2011 Bradley Blows Away Opposition At Letterkenny 3K Connor Bradley sat out last Wednesdays record breaking Furey Insurances 5K opener on Bay Road but confirmed his well being with an impressive 8m 45s unopposed win at Sundays Letterkenny 3K, finishing well clear of Letterkenny stalwarth Pauric McKinney on 9m 3s with James Flanagan a further 3 seconds behind in third place. The speedy Spartan now moves to the track for this weekends Irish Universities championships in Antrim where he is expected to challange in the 1500 metres. more 20th April 2011 FUREY INSURANCES 5K SERIES RACE 1 Hamilton & McGloin smash course records & take ANI Championship A flat ,fast and accurately measured course hugging the shoreline of the river Foyle, drew nearly 200 runners for the opening race in the Furey Insurances 5K series and produced spanking new male and female course records from Annadales Paddy Hamilton,14m 39s and Teresa McGloin of Finn Valley with 17m 6s. more 11th April 2011 FUREY INSURANCES 5K SERIES........READY FOR THE OFF ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 20th !! All roads will lead to the North West and the Banks of the Foyle on Wednesday evening April 20th, for the first race in the ever popular Furey Insurances 5K Series, organised in the traditional six race format in Derry and Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula by City of Derry Spartans. more 11th April 2011 Connor wins Queens 5k Connor Bradley stormed to an outstanding success at the top quality Queens 5K in Belfast on Wednesday night,absolutely smashing the 15m barrier with a brilliant new 14m 46s PB and relegating two big name athletes,2010 winner Paddy Hamilton of Annadale and St Malachys star man Joe McAlister to the minor places. more 29th March 2011 Delight in Dunboyne and Antrim Team Silver for Shane Local runners saw competitive action at three venues over the weekend, Stranorlar, Antrim and Dunboyne and impressed particularly at the latter two races. more 12th March 2011 CONNOR WINS GRANSHA 5K AS SHANE GRABS IRISH SCHOOLS BRONZE Despite the inclement weather sixty five hardy souls lined up in Gransha for Saturdays Padddys Weekend 5K,getting the local road race season off to a great start as Connor Bradley sped to an impressive 15m 16s victory, while in much better conditions down in Dublin, St Columbs College talent Shane McGowan grabbed a well deserved individual bronze in the Junior Boys race at the Irish Schools cross country championships. more 12th March 2011 Irish Schools Cross Country and Gransha 5K In Weekend Spotlight The roads in and around Gransha Park and the hopefully,lush green acres around Dublins National Sports Campus in Abbotstown,will be the main focus of action this weekend for local athletes as the local Paddys Weekend 5K and the Irish Schools cross country championships grab the attention tomorrow. more 12th March 2011 Local Juveniles Shine At Glasgow and Magherafelt Indoor Championship A series of quality Indoor Championship performances from Juvenile athletes in Glasgow and Magherafelt grabbed the local headlines over the weekend,as around twenty Scottish and Ulster under age medals were brought Foyleside,all bar one won by City of Derry Spartans athletes. Olympians Olivia Webb won U15 bronze at 1500 metres in Magherafelt, the Spartans notched up a bakers dozen at the County Derry venue and for good measure returned from the Scottish Juvenile Championships in Glasgows Kelvin Hall with an impressive half dozen more. more 21st Feb 2011 Provincial Medal Bonanza From Indoors At Odyssey Arena Belfasts Odyssey Centre hosted the National Senior and Ulster Juvenile Indoor championships over the weekend and proved to be a hugely rewarding venue for local athletes with twenty two Ulster Juvenile medals and a host of excellent performances from City of Derry athletes over the comprehensive two day programme. Among the highlights were the double gold and a silver from U16 star Ciara Armstrong;a cracking U16 800 metres gold from Shane McGowan; Ryan McParlands U17 double gold and a silver and further gold plus silver efforts from U16 sprinter Jack McCloskey and U17 jumper Claire Dougherty. more 13th Feb 2011 NI/Ulster Cross Country Championships ------Spartans Golden Girls and Silver Lining at Stranorlar! Sunny and dry Stranorlar was the venue for the weekends NI/Ulster Senior cross country championships where in the opening race,a surprise but thoroughly merited Womens team gold set the scene perfectly for City of Derry Spartans,but a unique championship team double success was cruelly denied when a late charge by the defending champions St Malachys relegated the male red vests to yet another runners up finish in these championships. more 13th Feb 2011 Gransha 5K in aid of the Foyle Hospice 12th march 5k Road race/jog in aid of Foyle Hospice £5 entry , 11 am start at Gransha registration from 10 am. First local 5k of the season , usual tea coffee and scones and spot prizes .Organiser: Paula mc Gilloway 02871372220 or 07729628448 6th Feb 2011 David McCarthy nominated for European Athlete of the Month - Give him a vote please! Dadvid McCarthy, nephew of City of Derry's Declan McCarthy has been nominated for European Athlete of the month and needs you votes to get it. David has been in flying form lately, he ran a European-leading time of 7:53.33 (3000m indoors) in Boston on 29 January. In December the Providence College based Waterford man finished 11th in the European U23 cross country championships to lead the Irish team to win Ireland’s first ever team gold. The voting will close on Tuesday 15 February at noon CET. David has spent much of his running career being coached by our own Malcolm McCausland and regularly trains in Derry. We wish him all the best. To vote click here, it only takes a minute. 10th Jan 2011 Golden Masters Cross Country Debut For Reed At Stormont Declan Reed made his long overdue debut in championship Masters cross country at Stormont last Saturday and stormed to a brilliant indivual win ahead of red hot favourite Annadales David Morwood,as his City of Derry squad claimed a well deserved team silver in the NI/Ulster male Masters championships. more 7th Jan 2011 Stormont Hosts Seasons First Big Cross Country Championships Tomorrow Belfasts spacious Stormont grounds tomorrow hosts the first major cross country championships of the year,the NI/Ulster Junior and Masters and despite doubts over the availability of a few key personnel,local runners will travel with championship medals firmly in their sights. more 29th Dec 2010 Geencastle and Stranorlar Road Races Lots of top class action then to look forward to in the coming weeks and 2010 signed off in fine style with,despite the foul weather,decent turnouts for last Mondays Greencastle 5 mile and the Finn Valley 5K. more 23rd Dec 2010 Will St Stephens Day Road Races Beat the Weather?? With winters icy grip still playing havoc with both training and competition, local athletes letters to Santa no doubt are no go zones for a traditional White Christmas and with two attractive St. Stephens Day races scheduled at Srtanorlar and Greencastle,the athletics fraternity would be delighted to see the last of the snow and ice still covering the North West more 23rd Dec 2010 North West Cross Country Substitute The Big Freeze which decimated the weekend sporting programme did not stop the hardy band of local runners who turned out at wintery Gransha Park in Derry, for a 3.6K romp in the snow as City of Derry Spartans staged an alternative North West cross country championships last Saturday. more 17th Dec 2010 North West Cross Country Championships-Warning Tomorrows North West Cross Country at Gransha has been affected by the prevailing weather conditions and anticipated travel difficulties,consequently the advertised race programme has been modified by organisors City of Derry Spartans. NOTE: We don't advise anyone to travel any distance for the event. The roads around Derry-Donegal are treacherous! While the course is probably runable, it is the travel that is the problem. more 11th Dec 2010 North West Cross Country Championships Saturday the 18th of December is the North West Cross Country Championships in Gransha. This race is open to all, regardless of ability and is an ideal opportunity for all you road runners to put your toes in the muck. If it's good enough for the Kenyans?..... poster here 11th Dec 2010 White-Out Hampers Athletics Training and Competition as Busy Weekend Looms The almost total wipeout since the hugely successful National Juvenile and Inter County cross country championships staged at Gransha on the last Sunday in November, has seriously hampered both training and competition with last Saturdays Malcolm Cup meeting in Ballyclare cancelled as indeed was the previous days local Primary Schools cross country League races at St Columbs Park. more 29th Nov 2010 Gransha's Winter Wonderland for National Cross Country Championships Despite the Christmas Card vista of Gransha Park on Sunday when sking could easily been accomodated,the National Juvenile and Inter Counties cross country championships went ahead with over 1000 athletes from all over Ireland, serving up a snowy spectacle to keep the big crowd thoroughly entertained. more including photos here 25th Nov 2010 Gransha Grabs the Weekend Headlines.......National Juvenile/Inter Counties Cross Country this Sunday Its all systems go for the biggest athletics weekend of the season so far and argueably the most significant in the chequered history of local athletics as Derry distance runners contest tomorrows NI 10K road championships in Belfast and on Sunday, Gransha hosts the National Juvenile and Inter County cross country championships with the top locals taking on the best from all over Ireland. more 25th Nov 2010 Spartans Top NI Club Again City of Derry Spartans were confirmed as Junior and Senior Club of the Year at Wednesday evenings Athletics NI 2010 Awards Ceremony in Belfast and popular club official Chris Power received the Volunteers Award to cap another great year for the top local club. This was the Spartans second successive such recognition-Gerry Lynch gained the Volunteer Award in 2009-- and the awards were richly deserved for the clubs hard work and success this year as their Juveniles,Seniors and Masters competed with distinction in all athletics disciplines and at many,many venues. Well done to us:) 25th
Nov 2010
Masters International Cross
Country Dublins Santry Demense hosted a top class Masters International cross country championships last Saturday and North West athletes including ten City of Derry runners were centrally involved in the action packed programme of three age graded races. Indeed both Roisin Lynch and Gerry Lynch came home with team silver medals from their respective Republic of Ireland F60 and Northern Ireland M65 squads:Christy McMonagle won the local and Irish M65 head to head with his clubmate by five seconds,in the tough 6K race to finish fifth overall and just out of the indivual medals, with his Irish squad unfortunately not making the podium and Declan McCarthy and Damien McGinty saw their M45 N Ireland team miss bronze by just one point after an intense battle with the Welsh squad. more UPDATED 8TH 7Nov 2010 City of Derry win Ulster Novice City of Derry's men’s team won the Ulster Novice cross country today, beating Finn Valley by 1 pt. :) Pauric McLaughlin Finn Valley won the race. City of Derry results that I have. Scoring team Noel Logan 4th, Richard Johnston 5th, Brendan Murphy 8th, Gary Slevin 18th. Also 5th man Mark Mullan out kicked Valley's 4th man in the last 200m. Great performance by the lads, many of whom running their first cross country race. In the women’s race the positions were reversed with Finn Valley 1st City of Derry 2nd. Jackie McGinley had a fantastic race to finish 2nd individual with Inishowen AC's Theresa Doherty winning the race. Race photos by Dara here. Yesterday City of Derry men finished 3rd in a high quality McConnell Shield in Ballyclare. Results here. Some photos taken by Bridgeen Byrne here. Full report from Gerry Lynch here including novice results. 3rd Nov 2010 Classy Cross Country Race Action Awaits The clocks may well have gone back over the weekend but its all systems go for local athletics as the competitive action kicks in to a higher gear this month with three significant cross country weekends scheduled by the end of November. Indeed the McConnell Shield in Ballyclare this Saturday and Sundays Ulster/NI Juvenile Uneven Age Groups and Novice championships in Monaghan,provide a meaty double header with a huge local interest guaranteed from both City of Derry Spartans and Foyle Valley AC. more including Donegal senior XC results and photos here 28th Oct 2010 Masters Team Gold and New Irish Age Group Marathon Record for McMonagle in Dublin With this weekends competitive action confined to the Donegal Senior cross country in Stranorlar on Sunday the round up from an excellent local showing at Mondays Dublin Marathon makes the headlines. Christy McMonagles electronic chip timing of 3hrs 13m 50s has been accepted as a new Irish M65 plus age group record by the Irish Masters Atletics Association and Christy now holds both National age group bests for the marathon and half marathon,the latter set last year in Stranorlar more 28th Oct 2010 Book Launch -'Donegal's Sporting Greats You are invited to the launch of a new book 'Donegal's Sporting Greats' which will take place in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny on Friday, November 5th at 8.30 pm. more 28th Oct 2010 Aoife Wins Ulster Gold And Books All Ireland Spot For Gransha Aoife Laverty was the local star of the show at Saturdays Provincial Juvenile cross country championships in Jordanstown,coming home an impressive winner of the Girls U14 race and in the process booked her place for the Nationals,set for the Gransha grounds in late November.The talented City of Derry teenager won a very competitive race,setting the standard for her clubmates who responded brilliantly with Amy Jackson,an excellent 4th,leading the red vests U16 Girls squad to team silver in their age group. more 18th Oct 2010 City of Derry Spartans 6th in European Club's Half Marathon Championships City of Derry Spartans overcame heat and a demanding course to finish sixth in yesterday’s European Champion Clubs’ Half Marathon Championship in Torres Vedras, Portugal. The Northwest club was representing Ireland after winning the national team title at that distance in Donegal last year. more 18th Oct 2010 Big Performances in Portugal,Comber and Dublin The weekends competitive action in Comber,Dublin and Lisbon all had an international connection,with selection for next months Masters International cross country at stake in the first two venues and of course the Portugese venue saw the local City of Derry Spartans half marathon squad line up in the European Clubs championship whrere they finished in a very creditible sixth place.This performance was complemented by ten of the clubs talented Master runners putting themselves on the short list for the NI and Irish squads by their efforts in both Comber and Dublins Phoenix Park. more 15th Oct 2010 European Clubs Half Marathon in Portugal Tops Weekend Action Local athletics will certainly leave a major carbon footprint this weekend with competitive action in Omagh,Comber,Dundrum,Dublin and Lisbon where a City of Derry Spartans mens squad will represent Ireland in the prestigious European Clubs Half Marathon Championships. more 3rd Oct 2010 Massive Turn Out For Martys Run......Jason For Christchurch World Championships Well over 1000 runneres and walkers turned out for Sunday mornings inaugral Martys 5K Run,organised by the local Foyle Valley club in memory of the late Marty Gallagher,a very promising athlete tragically killed in a road accident last Halloween night and the large field was led home by Emmet McGinty and Dawn McDaid,the overall male and female winners on a bright,sunny Sunday morning. more 12th Sept 2010 Duncan and Paul win Waterside Half Marathon Stephen Duncan retained his NI Half Marathon title with a comfortable win today in the 29th Waterside half marathon running 67 mins 41 secs. Anne Paul of City of Derry Spartans won the womens race and NI champion title in just over 84 mins. The team races were both won by the Spartans with Declan Reed, Brendan Murphy and Paddy Mór combining to become NI Champions in the mens race ahead of defending champions Omagh Harriers. The return to competition of CoD top veteran Anne Paul anchored the womens team to victory along with Marina Campbell and Jackie McGinley. Well done to all who took part and thanks to all who helped out on the day. A special mention of race director Gerry Lynch who does an excellent job along with his team in Derry City Council to make this arguably the top road running event in the North West. Congratulations Gerry from all you club mates in City of Derry Spartans AC. Full Results here. Photos taken by Cathy Furey here. REPORT HERE FROM GERRY LYNCH 6th Sept 2010 National Half Marathon Gold For City of Derry Masters Despite having to scratch their Senior Mens squad from the National Half Marathon championships in Carlow at the weekend,due to a combinationof injury and availability, a City of Derry team nevertheless came home with a fistful of medals as the M50 quartet of Sammy McAnaney,Dermot Connolly,Christy McMonagle and Noel McMonagle grabbed team gold in their age category and there was M50 individual silver for McAnaney and M65 individual gold for Christy McMonagle. more 29th Aug 2010 Greg and Marina win Dessie's Run City of Derry AC's Greg Roberts continued his excellent season with a convincing win in the Spar Dessie's Run 10k running a swift 30 mins 53 sec in windy conditions. Marina Campbell, also of City of Derry won the womens race in a new pb of 39 mins 46 secs. Full results here. Photos from Cathy here. REPORT HERE 6TH SEPTEMBER 24th Aug 2010 Spar Dessies Run Kicks off Busy Road Race Agenda As the summer threatens to say goodbye the road race season hots up with three weeks of top class action kicking off this Sunday 29th August at Gransha with the annual Dessies Run set to attract big numbers for the popular three lap 10K in the Clooney Road venue. Carlow is the venue a week later,Sunday September 5th for the National Half Marathon championship with the local Spartans travelling to defend their senior mens team title and then on Sunday September 12th its back to Gransha for the 29th staging of the Waterside Half Marathon which this year has a target of 1500 participants. more 20th Aug 2010 Carlin wins 3rd Buncrana Mile Kevin Carlin of City of Derry continued his winning ways last night when taking a convincing victory in the Buncrana Mile. Kevin had 10 secs to spare over Spartan Eoghan Furey in 2nd place. 3rd place went to CoD's Shane McGowan who at 13 years of age ran a great race to finish 3rd in 5 mins 3 secs. Full results here. Results by category here. Well done to all those who took on the challenge but unfortunately the low turnout represented the unfounded widespread fear of racing 1 mile in the local running fraternity! People will run 26 but won't run 1?????? Photos taken by Cathy Furey here 20th Aug 2010 Weekend Track Action -Starter for the Spar Dessies Run Following last nights Super 5 track meeting at Mary Peters in Belfast in which a few locals participated--no results available as we go to press- Antrim is tomorrows venue for the NI Team Trophy which should see Olympian attempt to defend the title won last year.After their Nationl League heroics in Tullamore last weekend City of Derry are unlikely to put in anything other than a token appearance at this one which probably suffers from the late season date. more 15th Aug 2010 Spar Dessie's Run 10k Click the link on the left of the site for details of the 2010 Spar Dessie's Run 10k. Online and postal entry available. Help us by entering before the morning of the race please. Strictly NO entries after 11.30 on race day. UPDATED 16TH WITH REPORT 15th Aug 2010 City of Derry win Bronze in National League City of Derry Spartans confirmed their status as one of the best clubs in the country when taking magnificent bronze medals in the All Ireland Men's Track and Field league on Saturday. The club only gained promotion to the premier division last year. Clonliffe Harriers won by some distance but only half a point separated the next 3 clubs. DSD finished in 2nd, 1/2 a point ahead of City of Derry and Menapians who had the same points. The spartans got the bronze on countback with more individual wins. Full results here. The women finished 6th in the Division 1 final. Well done to all! Report and photos added Mon 16th here
12th Aug 2010 Buncrana Mile on Thursday 19th Aug The annual Buncrana 1Mile Road Races will take place on Thursday 19th August 2010. All are welcome to have a go at this new challenge. Poster here. 12th Aug 2010 Spartans Go For National League Glory In Tullamore The Tullamore Harriers Stadium on Saturday hosts the National League Finals with the City of Derry Spartans senior male and female squads both in the mix for honours,the men in the Premier Division and the women in the First Division,after battling their way out of the two qualifying rounds in June and July and setting up a crack at the top track and field clubs in the country. more 12th Aug 2010 Carlin and Rodriguez win Jog in the Bog City of Derrys Kevin Carlin led home an 80 plus field at wednedsay nights Jog in the Bog 5K,clocking an impressive 16m 14s for a 20s victory margin over English visitor,Clayton Payne with Inishowen AC,s Declan Caldwell third on 17m 08s.The Spartan and the visiting Triathlete who has a 15m 01s PB for the distance,battled away upfront from the gun and the red vest showed real bottle to outlast his opponent and stride home to a welcome win which should boost his confidence after an indifferent few months. more 4th Aug 2010Jog in the Bog next Wednesday The annual Jog in the Bog 5K will be staged out of the Gasyard Centre on Wednesday 11th August next,starting at 7 30pm with entries at £5 taken in the Centre from 6.30pm.A similar course to last year will be used again with the "round the houses" format proving popular with both runners and spectators.The finish may indeed be switched to maximise spectator input! more 4th Aug 2010Smyth Bows Out On A High Jason Smyths inspiring run to the European Championships 100m Semi Final in recent days was the athletics headline grabber of the week, as the City of Derry Spartans speedster wrote his name majestically all over the media,locally,nationally and European wide as the first Paralympic athlete to compete successfully at a major mainstream championships. more 4th Aug 2010SPARTANS ARE THE MC CAIN’S NORTHERN IRELAND YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE CHAMPIONS The City of Derry Spartans are the Northern Ireland Young Athletes League Champions for the fourth year in succession. The Spartans travelled to Antrim Forum on Saturday in the hope of securing this title and certainly did it in style. more 4th Aug 2010Rising Stars Coach Recruitment The closing date for applications for this year’s “Rising Stars” Coaches is drawing nearer (4pm Fri 13th Aug 2010). Athletics NI would like to encourage as many coaches to apply this year to ensure the young athletes get the chance to experience the best coaching Ulster has to offer. more 21st July 2010Johnston and Crossan win Furey Series The final race in the 2010 Furey Insurances Series took place tonight on a wet Ballineska circuit but the weather didn't deter some 140 hardy souls. Richard Johnston led the way to win by some 9 seconds over his rival Scott Rankin with Emmet McGinty in 3rd. This win gave Johnston the overall series title for 2010. Helena Crossan likewise won the women's race and in doing so won the series ahead of Gemma Turley. The final race was kindly sponsored by Donnelly and Taggart Motors. . Photos taken by Bernie here. Thanks to all the race sponsors, to all who helped out in any way and to all the runners who made this the most successful series to date. Eoghan. ps: Any errors in the results please email me at eoghanfurey@gmail.com 22nd July 2010Updated Results here Report and AGE GRADED CORRECTION HERE 17th July 2010Furey Series last race this Wednesday Wednesday 21ts July is the final race of
the 2010 Furey Insurances 5k series and takes place on the
Ballineska course beside Templemore Sports Complex. Overall
series prizes will be decided on the night. With the growth
shown in previous races we are expecting alarge turnout for
the final race.. It would be most appreciated, if you intend
to run that you pre enter. NOTE : No penalty for non attendance.
There will be a separate desk for those pre entered for Race
No up untill 7.10pm this will speed up your entry and allow
for a more relaxed pre race atmosphere . The email address
for pre entry is fudgelarge@gmail.com Just send me your : The overall series is too tight to call at this moment with some key people still on 3 races. The vets prizes overall will be done on an age graded basis with the best 4 times age graded. The overall 1st and 2nd will be worked out slightly differently this year. The best 4 performances will win. We have previously used time and position but in order to make it as fair as possible this year we are adopting the pergentage system. This way the number of people in the race is reflected. The attached spreadsheet should show what I mean. The best 4 percentages are averaged out. There may be the odd mistake in my calculations and if you spot anything then please email me at eoghanfurey@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing you all there and the series t-shirts for those who complete 4 races will also be available on the night. Registration from 6 pm as usual at Templemore Sports Complex Derry. Overall spreadsheet so far here. Remember that the vets prize is calculated differently! Thanks Eoghan Furey
12th July 2010Athletics Northern Ireland & Ulster Rising Stars Squad Details and applications for the Athletics NI and Ulster Rising Stars squad are now available. For programme info click here. Coach information and application form here and here. Athlete medical consent form here. 12th July 2010Carey just Misses out on Gold at Santry A top quality National Senior Track/Field championships at Dublin,s Santry Stadium over the weekend,yielded eight medals for North West athletes,among them City of Derry,s Tom Carey who battled to 400m Hurdles silver as just one second separated the top three finishers in a tense final. more 12th July 2010Juveniles Stars Impress A total of thirteen National Juvenile championship medals were brought home last weekend by the talented young athletes from City of Derry Spartans,highlighted by Hurdlers,Mark McGarvey and Ryan McParland who both struck gold in Tullamore. more 7th July 2010Spartans dominate Young Athletes League Again! Congratulations and Well Done to the Juvenile Spartans for their emphatic table topping of the McCains Young Athletes League for yet another year! They had almost 500 points to spare over nearest rivals Regent House and will travel to Antrim at the end of July,very hot favourites to retain the Team Title and qualify once again to represent NI at the UK Finals in September. Well done to everybody concerned!!!! Come on you Spartans!!! Total points here 7th July 2010All Ireland Juvenile Athletic Championships 13 Medals won by City of Derry Spartans Athletes at the first weekend of the All Ireland Juvenile Athletic Championships in Tullamore at the weekend. more 7th July 2010Masters Championships and Tailteann Games Medal Haul Local athletes showcased their talent across the age bands over the weekend with big performances at the NI Masters championships at the Mary Peters track and at the Juvenile Inter Provincial Tailteann Games in Tullamore. more 7th July 2010Round the Bridges Emmet McGinty ran a good 54m 28secs for the runners up spot behind Neil Douglas of Ballymena Runners at last Thursdays annual Limavady Round the Bridges 10 miler as local runners filed six of the top ten places. more 30th June 2010Johnston and Davidson Lead Home Record Field at Carndonagh 5K Richard Johnston won the latest installment of his season long battle with tenacious Foyle Valley rival Scott Rankin, at a wet and windy Carndonagh 5K on Wednesday night last and American visitor Hannah Davidson was much too good for the local opposition in the Womens race,as a record 179 finishers contested the penultimate race in the hugely popular Furey Insurances 5K Series. Results here. Photos taken by Cathy here. Full Report here 21st June 2010Furey Insurances Series moves to Carndonagh Wednesday the 30th of June sees round 5 of the Furey Insurances 5k series move to the north Inishowen town of Carndonagh which is approx 30 mins from Derry City. This continues the cross border aspect of the series which branches out from the city into it's natural hinterland of the Inis Eoghain pininsula. The race is sponsored by local firm Atlanfish for whom Declan McCarthy is the accountant. Furey Insurances also have a branch there. This race is jointly organised with Inishowen AC and the race head quarters is Carndonagh Community School. Another great turnout is expected as the running boom continues. Overall the series battle looks to be between Foyle Valley's Scott Rankin and City of Derry's new recruit Richard Johnston but with only 4 races run nothing is decided. The open womens and vets isn't clear yet but plenty of scores will be settled in "Carn"! Poster here 21st June 2010Road Racing Pauric McKinney won last Friday nights Lifford 5K,his 15m 30secs seeing him home ahead of Aaron Doherty's 15m 55secs with Ivan Toner third on 16m3s..more including Lifford results and carndonagh 5k poster here 21st June 2010NI/Ulster Juvenile Championships winners There were many excellent performances from young local athletes at the weekends Provincial Championships in Antrim with the stand outs, a triple golden treble from Mark McGarvey,Andrew Bolster and Anna Barr plus double gold from Ciara Armstrong and Jack McCloskey as a host of championship medals and All Ireland qualifications were achieved. Mark McGarvey at U17 level won his 100m,100m Hurdles and Long Jump,Anna Barr in the same age band won the 200m,300m and Triple Jump and at U16 Andrew Bolster was successful in the 200m,100Hurdles and 250Hurdles. Ciara Armstrong and Jack McCloskey at U15 level each won their respective 100m/200m golds. photos here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here 21st June 2010Claire and Ryan in Romania Staying with track/field and two young City of Derry stars are currently at a European Youth Olympics training camp in Romania with a select 24 strong group of 15/16 year olds from clubs all over Ireland. The Spartans,Triple/Long Jumper Claire Docherty and Hurdler/Sprinter Ryan McParland joined three Donegal athletes, selected to travel as part of the Olympic Council of Irelands preparations for participation in next years European Youth Olympics Festival in Turkey.Congratulations to all of them and no doubt the experience will add to their further development in the sport. 21st June 2010Sprinter Smyth--Brilliant in Budapest Sundays update on the AAI Website captured perfectly the ongoing success story which is local sprint sensation Jason Smyth as the Eglinton Flyer stormed to another new 100m PB of 10.27secs in Budapest the previous day. more 14th June 2010Smyth's Stunning Sprint Record in Superb Athletics Weekend If speedster Jason Smyth,s stunning new NI 100m record of 10.32s at Antrim on Saturday quite rightly grabbed the headlines for the Eglinton Flyer, lets also flag up Tom Carey,s and Aaron Crawford,s 400m Hurdles and Javelin Ni/Ulster Championship Golds ,the brilliant National League Premier Division first round runners up performance by the City of Derry Spartans mens squad and an impressive Division 1 third place effort from their female counterparts,as Antrim hosted a real quality weekend double header. more 14th June 2010National League Round 1 in Antrim Sunday saw the second half of the weekends double header featuring Round 1 of the National League with City of Derry flying the local flag in both the Mens and Womens competitions. Both performed very well,the mens Premier Division runners up spot,an eye catching one and the female red vests in Division 1,kept their qualifying hopes high ,scoring an impressive 101 points for a third place finish. more 14th June 2010Buncrana 10K The consistent Innishowen AC man Joe McKinney was a comfortable winner of Saturday nights Buncrana 10K which attracted an entry of around 150. McKinney ran 34n13s for the win,ahead of City of Derry,s Brendan Murphy on 35m03s and his M45 clubmate,Gerry Duddy with 35m24s. More here including full results and photos. 14th June 2010YAL Rd 3 Results Click here for the complete set of results for Round 3 at both Magherafelt and Bangor along with the results for the senior events at both venues. Thanks for the support during the last season. Regards Chris Power. 10th June 2010Johnston wins latest head to head at Culmore 5K Richard Johmston and Scott Rankin resumed their seasons ongoing battle for supremacy at Culmore on Wednesday night, in Race 4 of the hugely popular Furey Insurances 5K Series,with the Randalstown based City of Derry Spartans newcomer carving out a ten second victory margin over his Foyle Valley rival in a wind affected 16m 6secs,as the Womens race went to Innishowen,s impressive Helena Crossan in 18m 45secs. more. Results here. Photos here, 10th June 2010Smyth to Star in Antrim Track/Field Weekend Double Header! Antrim will be the venue this weekend for
a top class double header of athletics action with tomorrows
NI/Ulster Senor and U18/U20 Track and Field championships
followed on Sunday by Round 1 of the prestigious National
League. more 8th June 2010Irish Schools Golds for Claire and Ryan in Tullamore Claire Dougherty,s excellent High Jump/Triple Jump double and Ryan McParland,s impressive 100m Hurdless victory, were the golden treble from the local seven medal haul,won at last Saturday,s All Ireland Secondary Schools Track/Field Championships in sunny Tullamore. more 5th June 2010Culmore 5K Pre entry With the growth shown in previous races we
are expecting alarge turnout for the Furey Series 5K at Culmore.
It would be most appreciated, if you intend to run that you
pre enter. NOTE : No penalty for non attendance. There will
be a separate desk for those pre entered for chip and Race
No up untill 7.10pm this will speed up your entry and allow
for a more relaxed 3rd June 2010Culmore 5K Culmores Cooney Rd circuit hosts race four in the Furey Insurances 5K Series next Wednesday night at 7 30pm on the familiar Coney Rd circuit with sponsorship from Physio,Shaw Barron and the Joe Jackson franchise. A big entry is expected for this one,entries will be taken from 6pm at race HQ,the Victoria Hall on the Arden Rd/Coney Rd junction. This is adjacent to the race start and finish and spectators are reminded that the Culmore circuit is very good for catching the action close up and personal. 3rd June 2010Schools Stars Chase All Ireland Honours in Tullamore Tomorrow Tullamore and Donegal Town are the featured venues for local athletes this weekend,as the Midlands Stadium hosts the ultra competitive All Ireland Track/Field Championships tomorrow,while tonight at 7 30pm,the Donegal Town 5K is the seventh in the County wide Grand Prix Race Series. more 31st May 2010Buncrana 5K Records Galore Results amended! Click here. Report now included from Gerry L -3rd june 24th May 2010Super Ulster Schools Medal Haul Local Schools athletes were in superb form at last Friday/Saturday,s Ulster Schools Track/Field Championships staged in sizzling conditions at Antrim and came away with an impressive haul of 21 individual medals plus the Thornhill College Minor Girls sprint relay squads team bronze more 24th May 2010Donegal town 5k Details here of the Donegal Town 5k 24thReport added 21st May 2010Paddy Mor 2nd in Wilkies 5m Paddy Mor Doherty of City of Derry continued his best season in recent years with a comfortable runner up spot in Wilkies 5 mile road race held last night in humid conditions out "the line". A fair number of Spartans turned out for the annual Foyle valley event which attracted a large field of 130 runners. The race was won by Scott Rankin of Foyle valley with Cathy McCourt of NBH winning the womens race. Full results here. Report here from Gerry 24th May 18th May 2010Arnie 3rd in the Interfirms 5k Aaron Doherty of City of Derry made a welcome return to competition tonight finishing 3rd in the Interfirms 5k in Letterkenny. The race was won in excellent times by Letterkenny duo of Patrick Brennan (14.56) and Maria McCambridge (16.31). 220 finishers! Full results here. Inter-firm race here 18th May 2010SPARTANS DOMINATE ROUND 2 OF YAL The second round of the Northern Ireland YAL took place last weekend at a sunny Templemore Sports Complex with City of Derry Spartans dominating the meeting. After leading Round 1 of the N.I. League by 200 points from Regent House, Belfast, the Spartans were feeling very confident. more 18th May 2010Jason Smyth--Flying in Florida! Another busy week of competitive action gets underway tonight in Letterkenny with the annul Inter Firms 5K road race,starting at 7.30pm,closely followed by Wednesday nights Spar Bann 10K,the second in the new Series,in Bambridge at 7pm and then its back home on Thursday evening for the popular annual Foyle Valley promotion,Wilkies 5m Classic which should attract good numbers for the "out the Line" course on the Letterkenny Rd. more 18th May 2010SPARTAN ATHLETES AT DISTRICT SCHOOLS Last Wednesday saw the first round of the District “C” Schools’ Athletic Championships at Antrim Forum. The top 3 Athletes qualifying for Ulster Schools Finals which will be held on Saturday 22nd May at Antrim Forum. more 12th May 2010Rankin Outruns Opposition at Lisnagelvin 5k Foyle Valleys emerging talent Scott Rankin
led home the record 120 strong field at Wednesdays Lisnagelvin
5K, race 2 in the Furey Insurances 5k series, but only after
an absorbing tussle with the promoting club City of Derry
Spartans new recruit Richard Johnston,the 2 second margin
on the line an indication of the intense battle for supremency
between the pair. Results here. Photos from me here(Eoghan -use as you like).. Well done to all and thanks to all who helped out. 12th May 2010Spartans top McCains Young Athletes League Table After last Saturdays second round match at
the Sports Complex,defending champions City of Derry Spartans
have a commanding lead at the top of the NI McCains Young
Athletes League and look poised for a fourth successive overall
victory. They lead closest challangers Regent House by almost
400 points,Lagan Valley are a further 300 points adrift and
the other Derry club Olympian,are chasing hard in fourth spot. 9th May 2010Lisnagelvin Hosts Round 2 of Furey Insurances 5K Road Race Series The second round of the Furey Insurances 5K Series will be hosted at Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre tomorrow night, Wednesday 12 May with Robert Bigger of Limavady-based race sponsors, WB Thompson Co Solicitors, confident of another bumper turnout for the popular local 5K series. Race start time is 7.30pm with entries taken at the Centre from 6pm. The usual 3-lap, flat course will be used once again with the runners benefiting from the spectators’ ability to easily access the course at strategic points to cheer on their favourites and watch the action unfold. The usual age category prizes are on offer. There is a £300 plus prize fund available and, of course, post-race refreshments and the opportunity to discuss and compare performances all add to the occasion. As ever in the Furey Series the top local club athletes will be joined on the line by a large turnout of participants of all abilities, all anxious to see just how they measure up to the 5K challenge; so chasing 30 minute finish times will, for some, be just as important as the 15 minute clockings of the front runners. The top three from the first round race at Bay Rd three weeks ago, Greg Roberts, Richard Johnston and Scott Rankin could well be in the mix again with Aaron Doherty and Emmet McGinty possibly looking to crash the upfront party. North Belfast’s Cathy McCourt, a clear Bay Rd winner could be the women to beat once again while local interest is likely to focus on what could be an interesting tussle between Jacqueline McGinley and Marina Campbell. All in all a terrific nights road racing is in store with the spectators set to be royally entertained on an excellent, spectator-friendly course. Race 3 in the Series follows in Buncrana on Wednesday 26 May and this one, with its proven fast course and massive numbers, should be well worth going along to sample. WILKIES 5Mile Classic Immediately prior to the Buncrana Race, Foyle Valley AC will stage their annual Wilkies 5m Classic from the Long Tower Community Centre on Thursday 20 May. Using the familiar Letterkenny Road course - out the Line - this popular race will attract big numbers once again. More information later. Gerry Lynch 9th May 2010YAL Round 2 Below complete rd2 and senior results from today’s YAL competition. We have again got another YAL record. In Round 1 it was Clare Dougherty from City of Derry Spartans who achieved a Under 15 Juniors High Jump record with 1.60m and now this weekend we have a new Under 17 Youth Javelin record by Matthew Martin with 54.55m.Thanks Chris. Rd2 Match 1 here, Rd2 Match 2 here, Rd2 Senior results here. 9th May 2010YAL Round 1 A very good start to the first round, by
all the Spartan Athletes. Two buses travelled to Antrim Forum
with strong teams and even with a few cry offs the Spartans
showed why they are Northern Ireland Champions for the last
three years. More news from the London Mini Marathon where Aoife Laverty was representing Northern Ireland and finished first girl home on the team over the 3miles. Well done Aoife. Danea
21st April 2010GGreg and Cathy win Race 1 of the Furey Insurances 5k Series 2010 City of Derry's Greg Roberts and Cathy McCourt of North Belfast Harriers won tonights opening race of the 2010 Furey Insurances 5k Series at the bay road. This race was kindly sponsored by the University of Ulster at Magee. A huge field of 171 runners turned out to make this the biggest race in the series 10 year history outside of the Buncrana fixture. The race also doubled as the NI Athletics 5k road race championships and hosts, City of Derry AC won both the mens and womens team titles from Foyle Valley and Inishowen AC in the mens and from Inishowen and Finn valley in the womens race. Many excellent times were posted all through the field with pbs being the order of the day. All will be glad to hear that there can be no disputing the distance as the course was measured by Mr John Glover who is also the NI Athletics President and presented the prizes on the night along with Mr Paul McElhinney of the University of Ulster. Thanks to all who took part and helped with the organisation. Full results here. Photos from the race here. Note if anyone thinks there may be an error in their time then please email us as mistakes do happen :). Thanks, Eoghan There is now a Furey Insurance 5k series group on facebook. Report from Gerry below Big,Brash and Brilliant
Bay Rd 5K 14th April 2010Furey Insurances 5k Series 2010 Launched It's just under a week until the first race in the 2010 Furey Insurance 5k Road Race Series organised by City of Derry Spartans AC. This is the 10th year that the series has been run and the 4th year being sponsored by Sean Furey Insurances of Buncrana and Carndonagh (Formerly Bob Mullan Series). The cross border dimension continues with 4 races in Derry City and 2 in Inis Eoghain. Last years series was the most successful to date with on average 100 runners for each of the 6 races. This year we are also trying out Championchip electronic timing on 2 of our biggest races at the Bay Road (race 1) and in Buncrana (race 3). Again this year our opening race on the Bay Road is run with sponsorship from the University of Ulster Magee and we have again been granted the honour of NI Athletics 5k Road Race Championship status which means medals and team prizes. Race 1 is on the 21st April so time to get yourself ready again. Race 2 crosses the Foyle to the ever popular Lisnagelvin 5k (remember the rain last year!) which is again kindly sponsored by Spartan masters middle distance specialist and Limavady solicitor Mr. Robert Bigger of WB Thompson and Co Solicitors. Race date is 12th May 2010. Race 3 is our first trip over the border on the 26th May to the home of our series sponsor Sean Furey Insurances. The Buncrana race has consistently seen the biggest entry due possibly to the fast course and big feed after. Course record prizes are also available for this one with all prizes sponsored by Sean Furey Insurances. No Champions League clashes this year so hopefully we can break the 200 mark! Race 4 on the 9th June is in Culmore with the individual sponsor to be confirmed. This is an excellent course for spectators and is completely flat. It is also the home race for Mr. Athletics himself, Gerry Lynch. Race 5 moves to Inis Eoghain again and this one is a joint venture between Inishowen AC and City of Derry Spartans. The Carndonagh 5k was first run last year and is kindly sponsored by Atlanfish through another top Spartan vet Declan McCarthy. Race headquarters is Carndonagh Community School, base of Inishowen AC Chairman Niall Magee. Sean Furey Insurance also has offices in the town. Race date 30th June. The final race returns to the home base of City of Derry AC at Templemore Sports Complex with the race being run on the Balliniska Circuit. Donnelly and Taggart motors are the sponsor here and the race date is the 21st July. Always a very interesting event as the overall series placing usually come down to this one and it is your last chance to catch him or her that you have been trailing for the previous races. All of the races are run on a Wednesday evening and have a 7.30pm start. Prizes are available for all races to the first 3 across the line in both male and female and to all the other categories(1st only). Refreshments are provided after each race. For those who complete 4 out of 6 races a high quality Series t-shirt is guaranteed. Overall Series cash prize(Best 4 performances count) 1st, 2nd Senior; 1st/2nd Vets (Age Graded); 1st/2nd Junior U20 Men/Women For further Series information contact Gerry Lynch on 07702006667 gerry.lynch@hotmail.com or Eoghan Furey on 00 353 879474883 or eoghanfurey@gmail.com The Furey Insurances 5k Series is aimed at everyone from Olympic hopefuls to those just moving up from walking pace. All levels of runner and joggers are welcome. Don't be put off by people telling you that 5k's are too fast, they are as fast or as slow as you want them to be. There will always be faster and slower runners than you! Looking forward to seeing you all there. Eoghan F Series Poster here. Note changed dates for Culmore and Ballineska 5Ks moved to the 9th June and 21st July respectively 14th April 2010Coleraine 5K The previously unknown,Richard Johnston,rumoured
to be an apprentice jockey won wednesdayy nights University
Challange5K at Coleraine in a respectible 15m 51s,coming home
ahead of Foyle Valleys Scott Rankin on 16m 12s and in third
spot,Samuel Miller who posted 16m 15s.Springwell,s talented
Eimear Mullan ran a sparkling 17 m 24s for a clear win in
the Womens race,well ahead of Jessica Craig on 19m 6s and
Jemma Turley on 19m 11s. 14th April 2010Local Athletics News More Championship Road Race action this weekend
for local athletes with the National 10K set to attract a
massive entry on Sunday in Dublins Phoenix Park, while the
boys and girls of Summer, aka the Track/Field specialists,will
be looking forward to next week and the first NI Open Meet
of the new season on Wednesday evening.Wednesday evening also
opens the 2010 Furey Insurances 5K road race Series,incorporating
the Athletics NI Championships at the Bay Rd Circuit with
a rare mix of top club runners and joggers set to burn up
the local roads on what should be a marvellous night bof road
racing. 14th April 2010Declan Reed Wins Easter 5k in Gransha Declan Reed had an easy win in the annual Easter 5k in aid of the Foyle Hospice. Behind him many of the feild got PB's in a great days racing. Thanks to Paula Mc Gilloway and her team for organising the event. Full results here. 14th April 2010Greg in flying form in Ballycotton Spartan Greg Roberts continued his fantastic season with a win in the Ballycotton 10 mile race in Cork. His time of 50.16 was enough to win by 30 secs from some of the countries top runners. He is reportedly the first Ulster man to win the prestigous race. This win is the highlight of his running career to date and encaps a wonderful cross country season. Congratulations from all at City of Derry AC. Results here. 23rd Feb 2010U17+U20 Scottish Indoor Championships Last weekend 7 athletes from City of Derry
Spartans travelled to the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow to compete
in the U17/U20 Scottish Indoor Championships. This group returned
home with 4 Championship medals and several personal bests.
The results were Mark Mc Garvey Silver medallists in the 60m
Hurdles and Bronze in the Long Jump U17. Jamie Herron silver
in the Triple Jump U20 and Ryan Mc Parland Bronze in the Triple
Jump U17 Boys. Photos here 1,2,3,4
Results here 22nd Feb 2010 City of Derry win All Ireland Intermediate XC All Ireland Intermediate and Vets Cross
Country Championships in Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon.
Photos here 31st Jan 2010City of Derry defeated in the "Senior" Despite a valiant effort by the Derry men, St Malachys AC won the NI/Ulster Senior Cross Country Championship in Stormont on Sat. The Spartans had 6 in the top 15 but still had to settle for silver as Malachys had 4 in the top 10 to the Spartans 2. Gary Murray was the deciding factor as he took control from the start and won the race by 30 sec in the end. Greg Roberts has the leading Derry man in 5th with Declan Reed having an excellent run in 8th place. Diarmuid Grant then led in a CoD train in 12th place with positions 13,14 and 15 being filled by Collie Roberts, Emmett McGinty and Aaron Doherty. However the final score was 55 St Mals to 67 CoD. The scoring 6 were backed up by strong runs from Brendan Murphy, Ciaran Hurley, Gerry Duddy and Dara Furey. Well done to all who competed. We'll be back next year! Photos here. Results here. 31st Jan 2010Declan Reed wins bronze in the "Junior" City of Derry's Declan Reed continued his fantastic season yesterday winning an individual bronze medal in the NI/Ulster Junior/Intermediate Cross Country Championship in Ballybofey. While there was a smaller than usual entry in the race in terms of numbers, there was no lack in quality. The race was won by St Malachy's Michael McKillop who is really benefiting from being a full time athlete, with another Malachys athlete Aiden McGowan in 2nd. This led the way for an easy team win for St Malachys who obviously expected it as they didn't bring the cup with them!! North Down took silver with the Spartans having to settle for bronze. In a very strong Masters men’s race Colin Roberts was the leading CoD runner in 5th. No category winners available at the moment. The ladies race also contained a strong field and the Derry club picked up Silver and Bronze team medals in the Intermediate and Masters respectively. Well done to all. Full results here and photos here. 10th Jan 2010Training details for Tue 12th Jan 2010 Training for U15, U17 and Senior Track and Field Group will be in Gransha next Tue 12th Jan. No training for U13 group till the weather improves. Danea. 10th Jan 2010NI & Ulster Age Group Championships, Odyssey Note to all athletes competing in the NI & Ulster Age Group Championships, Odyssey. Attached are Entry forms and timetable with Information about New False Start Rules. here and here. Form must be printed out and returned to the club with entry fee before 14th Jan. Danea. 11th Dec 09 NW Cross Country Championships Annadale Striders' Eddie McGinley won the main event at yesterdays North West Cross Country Championships in Gransha. Top female Spartan Aileen Morrison was an impressive winner of the womens race which was run along with the men. Results of Senior Open 6km Race here. Photos thanks to Dara here, and from Malcolm here. Junior races results here. 11th Dec 09 NW Cross Country Championships Details Poster for NW XC Races on the 19th Dec here. Note registration from 10.30. Main race starts at 12.15 6th Dec 09 City of Derry runners win team and county double at All Ireland Novice XC The Spartan men's team made history today when they won the All Ireland novice cross country championships for the first time in a very mucky Coleraine. The team won not only the club championships but also the county with Derry prevailing over a strong Cork squad. The club championships was won with an excellent 34 points to Clonliffe's 51. That man again, Greg Roberts led the club in a fantastic 3rd place(to win his 4th medal in 2 days!), some recovery from 30.37 for 10k the day before. He was backed up Diarmuid Grant, getting back to himself in 5th place. In 12th place was Aaron 'Arnie' Doherty, recently returned from Spain with Declan Reed having another fantastic run in 14th. These 4 did the job for the club championships and with the addition of Emmett McGinty 26th and Kevin Carlin 52nd (both getting back to good form) the county championships was won. Backing the top 6 up were gutsy runs from Eoghan Furey 62nd, Pajo Hamilton 65th, Brendan Murphy 90th and masters athlete Declan McCarthy in 91st. The most unlucky man of the day must be Gary Slevin who lost his spike in the crowd after only 300m, no doubt he will be back! Marina Campbell was the sole Spartan female on duty having a solid run to finish 26th. Photos here and here, thanks to Dermott Conolly and Malcolm McCausland for these. Club 6th Dec 09 Greg runs new PB in the Seeley Greg Roberts continued his great running with a fantastic 3rd place in the Joe Seeley 10k in Belfast yesterday running 30 mins 37 sec. A small number of City of Derry runners competed as the main club target of the weekend was the all ireland novice xc in Coleraine the following day. Good runs were also had by James Crampsie and Philip Donaghy who both ran pbs. Foyle valley also had a good showing at the race. Full results on NI Athletics website. 6th Dec 09 City of Derry surrender Malcolm Cup Despite a decent effort by a hastily assembled Spartan squad, North Down lifted the Malcolm Cup in Ballyclare. Emmett McGinty led the spartans home in 7th. Results here. Photos on the Annadale site here. 22nd Nov 09 Spartans dominate Pegasus XC City of Derry men’s squad won the team race easily at yesterdays Pegasus XC race held in the grounds of Coleraine Academical Institution. The Spartans filled 7 of the top 10 places. Greg Roberts had a comfortable win and Aaron Doherty won the battle for 2nd with Owen Carlton spoiling the Derry clean sweep by edging out Declan Reed for 3rd. This race may as well have been a Derry County Championships, as the majority of the field was made up of Derry clubs with Foyle Valley and Springwell also turning out in large numbers. Karen Alexander won the women race where Anne Paul got bronze. Results here. Photos here. 19th Nov 09 City of Derry AC are the top club in NI It's official! City of Derry Spartans is the top athletics club in Northern Ireland for 2009. The award was presented in Belfast on Wed 18th November at the annual athletics awards ceremony. The overall club of the year award was given in recognition of the fantastic year that the club had in 2009. The junior club of the year award also went to the Spartans. Individually Danea Herron won the development coach of the year award and Mr Sparta himself, Gerry Lynch was recognised with an award for his volunteering work. Some of the reasons we won the award are listed below. Well done to everyone, apologies if I left anything out. Eoghan. Come on the Spartans!!!!!!!!!!!!
13 members selected on NI/Irish Teams for British/Irish Masters XC International Birmingham 14/11/09. 2 club members on Irish senior squad for the European Cup. Successfully Organised NI 5k Road Champs, NI Half Marathon
Championships, Furey Insurances 5k Series (6 races) and other
events. Link to NI athletics website with details and photos from the awards night here 19th Nov 09 Bogle hits new heights Spartan Allan Bogle had a fantastic performance in the World Mountain Marathon Series final in Argentina. Allan qualified for the final by winning the Grand Canaria race of the series a number of months ago. The Limavady man finished in 18th position in a time of 3 hours 40 mins with the race being won in 3 hours 7 mins. Well done to our man in the Canaries. Hopefully he'll make it back for the NI Senior XC in Feb. 19th Nov 09 Happy hunting for the Spartans in England A busy weekend of cross country action for the club. Greg Roberts was the leading NI finisher in the international XC race in Gateshead. Christy McMonagle got an individual silver medal (V65) in the home countries masters XC in Birmingham. Collie Roberts and Oran McBride picked up team silver (Rep of Ireland) and bronze (Northern Ireland) medals respectively in the M40 category. Well done to all our club members on international duty. 19th Nov 09 Marina wins Ulster Novice Marina Campbell had a great run winning the Ulster Novice XC in Killybegs. This was last won by a Spartan in 2007 when Aileen Morrison won the title. While both mens and womens squads picked up silver medals and all competing gave their best, the club will see this as two team titles lost. If all entered had competed the story would have been different!! Next year! There was similar disappointment in Ballyclare when a vastly under strength men’s squad surrendered the McConnell Shield. Apart from Marina's success, a weekend to forget for the club. 1st Nov 09 Donegal Senior XC Championships The Donegal senior XC championships took place today in horrendous conditions in Ballybofey on a new course which can best be described as a real cross country course. Puddles up to 1 foot deep ensured that none of the competitors had time to relax. The individual titles were won by Pauric McKinney and Theresa McGloin, while hosts Finn Valley won both team contests. As this is an open championships, a City of Derry Squad entered and won bronze medals in the mens race. A day to remember for all! Results here. 1st Nov 09 PATAGONIA BECKONS FOR EGLINTON RUNNER Eglinton man Allan Bogle is rapidly carving out a name for himself in international running circles. Now based in the Canaries where he teaches, Bogle recently won the Gran Canaria K42 multi-terrain race across the island. It was the first time a fixture of the International K42 Circuit had been held in Europe and qualified the City of Derry athlete for the grand final in Argentina on November 1. In the meantime races are scheduled in Brazil and Africa where the course was in the Sahara Desert. “I led from the gun, which was my plan, as I like to control the pace, and wanted test myself in preparation for Argentina,” said Bogle. “I was two minutes slower than last year but it was much hotter and the tide was quite far in meaning I had to run on soft sand.” The winning man and woman from each qualifying race will dispute the final Salomon K42 in Argentina’s Villa la Angostura. Awaiting them there will 1500 runners, each with his own personal target. “I was pleased with how I ran, but I have a lot of work to do this month because I will be facing World class opposition in Argentina,” revealed the former Limavady Grammar School pupil. “I plan to step-up my training this month.” It will be the toughest race that the City of Derry Spartan will ever run with the course following paths through the foothills of the Andes to a height in excess of 1400 metres. He will face, among others, Gustavo Reyes who won last year’s race and one of his idols, Spanish marathon legend and former World Champion Martin Fiz. In the meantime, it’s twice a day training for Bogle who tries to average between 10 and 14 hours of running each week. “I don't enjoy getting up so early to train before work, but it is a necessary part of my preparation,” he confessed. Prior to his departure for sunnier climes, Bogle had been a key member of the City of Derry Spartans helping the club to its first ever Northern Ireland Senior Cross Country team title in 2007. Photo here. 1st Nov 09 Juvenile Athletes of the the year Ciara Armstong and Ryan McParland have been selected as County Derry juvenile athletes of the year by the Ulster Sports Council. Ciara and Ryan have been invited to a banquet in Killybegs to receive their awards. Ciara and Ryan both train at City of Derry athletics club. This is a fantastic achievement for the two youngsters and just goes to show to other runners that commitment and loyalty in the club really does work. 1st Nov 09 CoD win the Comber Cup A large group of 'senior' aka masters spartans competed in the recent Comber Cup. The mens team won the Comber cup for the first time. The race also doubled as a trial for the masters international and a the club was very succesful. Possibly 11 members of the club have gained selection for the international event on either the Northern or Republic of Ireland teams. Well done to all. Some photos here from Bridgeen and Martin.
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