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City Lift Malcolm Cup Words: Malcolm McCausland Photos: Eoghan Furey |
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The City men annexed one of the most prestigious cross country trophies of the winter outside of the championships with unexpected ease. Diarmuid Grant laid the seeds for team success when he took the individual runner-up spot behind newly-crowned Northern Ireland 10K road champion, Paddy Hamilton, of Annadale Striders. Diarmuid Grant Inspires Shock Win for City of Derry Grant was 22 seconds behind his training partner in Belfast with the second Spartan Allan Bogle bouncing back from a disappointing run in Sligo at the National Inter-Counties Championships the previous week to take the bronze spot. Gregory Roberts failed to complete the course in Sligo but showed his mettle by running a controlled race for fifth place. The enigmatic Mick Kealy switched from the veterans’ race to throw his weight behind the senior men and was rewarded with the fourth and final scoring spot in 16th. Outside the scorers Dominic Hazlett (18th), Patrick Hamilton (21st), Dara Furey (26th) and Andy Breslin (31st) all performed and provided valuable support. In the women’s race Shelagh Bodkin continued her fine form in finishing third behind Kelly Reid, a finalist over 1500 metres at the last Commonwealth Games, and picked up the award for the first over 35 across the line. Foyle Valley’s Damien McGinty made a welcome return to competition in the masters’ race which is now open to over 35s following a rule change during the summer. McGinty was pleased with his fourth place after being sidelined with injury for some months. Club mate Sammy McAnaney made a winning start in a new age group when he lifted the prize for first over 50 across the line taking tenth overall. Waterside GP Dermot Connolly, 12th, was also in winning form as he took the over 45 category prize while City team mate Oran McBride will have enjoyed his first taste of over 35s competition with a respectable 19th placing overall. Gerry Lynch also continued to impress with a runaway win in the over 60s section which was held in conjunction with the women’s race. And it was good to see a local vest prominent win in the under-age contests with St. Columb’s Declan Burns finishing fourth in the under 15 boys race. Emmett Gallagher also performed well for 14th in very muddy conditions. |
City of Derry scored
its biggest win of the season to date when the club senior men’s squad were
surprise winners of the Malcolm Cup at Ballyclare.