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Joe Triumphs at First Attempt! | |
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Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2005 Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2004 Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2003 Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2001
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A record field, ideal conditions and intriguing contests made the 2005 Gee’s Waterside Half Marathon one to remember for many years. Class told in the men’s race as current Irish 10,000 metres champion Joe McAllister prevailed on his first attempt at the 13.1 mile distance. An injection of pace just after the twelve mile marker was enough to take the St. Malachy’s man to victory and end Paul Rowan’s three year reign as NI champion. However, the 39-year-old Rowan did not abdicate without a fight and as his younger rival acknowledged after the race, he was made to work hard for the winner’s cheque of £500. Both men were prominent in a group of eight that broke away early in the race and were already 100 metres clear at the three mile mark reached in a workmanlike 15 minutes 30 seconds. At the turn for home Rowan, faced by a younger and faster rival, was forced to depart from his usual sit and kick tactics. The Willowfield runner struck the front with venom and quickly dispersed the leading group. At seven miles it was down to four as Rowan led clubmates Deane Fisher and McCullough through in 36:42 with McAllister a few strides back in fourth. Rowan kept the pressure on to such an extent that Fisher and McCullagh soon also wilted leaving McAllister as his sole companion as they started the climb up Caw Hill with a mile and a half to run. Suddenly at the 12 mile mark, halfway up the hill, McAllister made his move and was able to stretch away for a convincing victory in 67:34. It was the fastest winning time since 2000. The gallant Rowan followed 14 seconds later with a tired Fisher holding on for third in 68:53. Buncrana national school teacher Pauric McKinney duplicated his fourth place in the national half marathon just six days early to take fourth in 69:26. Omagh Harrier Stephen Duncan (69:44) in sixth and Gregory Roberts (70:56) ninth were the other two northwest runners to make the top ten. Locals also fared well in the masters’ categories with Sammy McAnaney (76:57) taking the M45 prize and Jimmy Reid (95:29) was top dog among the M65s. Diarmuid Grant combined well with Dominic Hazlett and Ciaran Hurley to give City of Derry an easy win in the relay section which attracted 20 teams.
However, a fast eleventh mile brought Shannon back into contention, gaining a solid lead she was to hold to the finish. Her time of 76:40 had not been bettered since Karen Cornwall triumphed in 75:24 thirteen years ago. Jill Shannon smiles after her victory while Eoghan Furey seems to dance a jig in the background Brennan a consistent top three finisher in the Belfast Marathon took second in 77:08 with Claire Quinn doing well to take the bronze medal in 79:39 despite ploughing a lone furrow throughout the race. Carndonagh’s Helena Crossan was the leading local finisher taking fifth overall in 82:35 while Castlefinn woman Rosemary Bogle was the leading M40 in 92:37. The event confirmed its status as one of the top races in the north of Ireland with a record entry of 578 in the main event as well as over 100 walkers. As ever Gerry Lynch and his team supplied their usual slick organisation. Results: Gee’s Waterside Half Marathon, Derry. – 1 J McAllister (St. Mal) 67:34, 2 P Rowan (WTH) 67:48, 3 D Fisher (WTH) 68:53, 4 P McKinney (LAC) (M40) 69:26, 5 A McCullough (WTH) (M40) 69:33, 6 S Duncan (OH) 69:44, 7 D Pimentel (U/A) 70:04, 8 D Simpson (WTH) 70:46, 9 G Roberts (CoD) 70:56, 10 K Kearney (NBH) 73:27; M40 – 1 P Murtagh (NBH) 73:19, 2 D Brady (NBH) 75:24, 3 N Grier (Alb) 75:54; M45 – S McAnaney (FoV) 76:57, 2 R Wilson (WTH) 78:21, 3 D Connolly (CoD) 79:41, M50 – P Murphy (NBH) 80:11, 2 J Breen (Spr) 80:26, 3 B Montague (OH) 80:44, M55 – T Eakin (LV) 81:11, M60 – D Seaton (ND) 89:20, M65 – J Reid (Spr) 95:29, U20 – 1 A Mooney (MU) 78:11, 2 G Slevin (U/A) 92:42, 3 M White (U/A) 92:56. Women – 1 J Shannon (LV) 76:40, 2 L Brennan (Sli) (F45) 77:08, 3 C Quinn (BH) 79:39, 4 H Crossan (LAC) (F35) 82:35, 5 J Cox Knowles (CoG) 82:59, 6 J Murphy (LV) 88:45; F35 – L McClean (BH) 81:16, 2 S Bodkin (CoD) 92:09, 3 P Gallagher (TC) 94:19; F40 – R Bogle (FiV) 92:37, F45 – M Rooney (TC) 101:31, F50 – Mary Mackin (Dro) 99:50.
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Jill
Shannon timed her race to perfection in the women’s contest. Lucy Brennan,
46, looked set to repeat her victory of two years ago as she raced to the
halfway point well clear of the Lagan