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.
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
-------------------------------
Promoting club City of Derry Spartans,Gregory Roberts,finished
at the head of the record 170 strong field at Wednesday nights
Bay Rd 5K,retaining his Athletics NI 5K road championship title
in the process and leading the red vests successful defence
of the
mens team honours,ahead of local rivals,Foyle Valley and Innishowen
AC.
Indeed the Spartans also retained the Womens team title with
Jackie McGinley,Marina Campbell and Bridgeen Byrne combinig
to see off the challange of Innishowen and Finn Valley. North
Belfast,s Cathy McCourt improved from 4th last year to post
an emphatic individual win ahead of Laga Valleys Ruth McGill
who squeezed home just in front of Abbeys Gemma Turley.
The race was the first in this years Furey Insurances 5K Series
and hosted by UU Magee,was also the second race in the University
Challange series.The magnificient turnout was rewarded with
excellent running conditions,a cracker of a course, first class
organisation and responded by producing a brilliant running
spectacle for the appreciative spectators on the fast 3 lap
Bay Rd circuit.
Up front recent Ballycotton 10 mille winner,Gregory Roberts
faced down an early challange from last weeks top two at the
UU Coleraine 5K,Richard Johnston and the improving Foyle Valley
man,Scott Rankin,to go on for the win in 15m 15s. The unattached
Johnston just edged Rankin in a desperate drive for the line
with both given the same time of 15m34s significant pb,s for
both!Emmet McGinty on 15m$4s and track specialist Pajo Hamilton
with 15m 57s,his first sub 16m clocking filled the next two
places and wrapped up the team title for City of Derry.
Cathy McCourt was an easy womens race champion with 17m 38s,
well clear of F50,Ruth McGill whose 19m 6s gave her a one second
margin over Gemma Turley in the battle for individual silver
and bronze.Both Jackie McGinley and Marina Campbell produced
sub 20m runs for the Spartans and with Bridgeen Byrne on 20m
20s the women in red retained team gold from Donegal rivals,Innishowen
and Finn Valley.
The other indivual category winners were Male U20,JP Williamson,with
an excellent 16m 1s,M35 Paddy Doherty,M40 Matt Wray,M45 Declan
McCarthy,M50 Sammy McAnaney,M55 Peter Lilburn and M60 Athletics
NI President and Course Measurer,John Glover
The Female winners were U20,Amy McDaid, F35 Margaret Kelly,F40
Jackie McGinley,F45 Bridgeen Byrne,F50 Fionuala McCourt and
F60 Roisin Lynch.
The next race in the series is at Lisnagelvin on Weds 12th May,once
again with a 7 30pm start time and entries will be taken on
the night at Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre.
Gerry Lynch
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
6th
April 09Launch of Furey Insurances
5k Series 2009
Furey Insurances 5K Series starts with N.I.
Championship Status. Details of the 2009 Furey Insurances 5K
Road Race Series organised as ever by City of Derry Spartans
AC were announced at a photo call on Monday 6th April at University
of Ulster, Magee in Derry.
The six race series has a cross border dimension,
four races are in Derry City, the other two have Inishowen Co
Donegal venues in Buncrana and Carndonagh and the series starts
courtesy of the University of Ulster, Magee on the new Sainsburys/Bay
Road Park Circuit in Derry on Wednesday evening 22nd April.
Launching the series were Sean Furey, Managing
Director of the overall sponsors and Brian Downing, President
of Athletics N.I. who are delighted to announce that the April
22nd race would incorporate the 2009 N.I. 5K Road Championship.
“Championship status will enhance both the
quality and quantity of the opening race in this popular series
and is a tribute to the series itself, the organising club City
of Derry Spartans,Sean Furey Insurances and the other individual
race sponsors” said Mr Downing at the launch.
Speaking on behalf of Furey Insurances, Managing
Director, Sean Furey said “We are delighted to continue our
association with City of Derry Spartans in this terrific 5K
series and happy to help facilitate the hundreds of runners
and joggers who participate in the races over the summer months
at venues in both Derry and Donegal.”
photo
Race Schedule
All the races have a uniform 7.30pm start and
all will be run on Wednesday evenings – the full itinerary is
as follows:
1. Wednesday 22nd April, Sainsburys/Bay Road
Circuit, Race Headquarters at University of Ulster, Magee, Students
Village, Duncreggan Road
2. Wednesday 6th May, Lisnagelvin Circuit, Race Headquarters
at Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre.
3. Wednesday 27th May, Buncrana Circuit, Race Headquarters at
Buncrana Swimming Pool.
4. Wednesday 10th June, Culmore Circuit, Race Headquarters at
Hollybush Primary School, Arden Road, Culmore.
5. Wednesday 24th June, Carndonagh Circuit, Race Headquarters
– to be confirmed.
6. Wednesday 22nd July, Balliniska/Branch Road Circuit, Race
Headquarters at Templemore Sports Complex.
All Entries will be taken at the Race Headquarters
on the night!
Prizes and Perks
There are incentives for runners and joggers
of all levels with a £250 prize fund on offer to the leading
age category finishers at each of the six races. There are also
overall prizes based on individual performances throughout the
series plus age graded awards and special race series T-Shirts
for everyone who completes four of the six events.
Perhaps the biggest incentive of all however,
is the opportunity to participate in six well organised 5K races
between April and July, savour the exciting atmosphere, check
out your closest rivals on a regular basis, go for P.B.’s on
familiar courses and benefit from the challenge of a regular
exercise programme.
Information
For further information please visit the City
of Derry Spartans AC website: Sparta-Athletics.co.uk or contact
Gerry Lynch 07736213153 or Eoghan Furey 0879474883.
FUREY INSURANCES 5K SERIES 2009
RACE DATE/TIME VENUE RACE HEADQUARTERS SPONSOR
1 Wednesday 22 April 2009
7.30pm Sainsburys/Bay Road Circuit Sports Centre Student Village
Duncreggan Road University of Ulster Magee
2 Wednesday 6 May 2009
7.30pm Lisnagelvin Circuit Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre Robert
Bigger of WB Thompson and Co Solicitors, Limavady
3 Wednesday 27 May 2009
7.30pm Buncrana Buncrana Swimming Pool Furey Insurances
4 Wednesday 10 June 2009
7.30pm Culmore Hollybush PS Arden Road Joe Jackson Milk Shake
Bar/Home Made Ice Cream
Shawn Barron
Remedial and Sports Massage Therapist
5 Wednesday 24 June 2009
7.30pm Carndonagh Declan McCarthy - Atlanfish and Inishowen
AC
6 Wednesday 22 July 2009
7.30pm Balliniska/Branch Road Circuit Templemore Sports Complex
Donnelly and Taggart Motors, Campsie
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:EOGHAN FUREY
00353879474883 or
GERRY LYNCH 07736213153
