28
May 08 Greg Roberts and Ann
Paul Triumph in biggest ever Buncrana 5k, 180 finishers.
Results
Photos
Well done to all who ran last night. The race was a huge success
with a record number of 180 finishers. Congratulations to all
the prize winners and a special congratulations to all those
whose first race is was. Well done!
We were honoured to have the president of the Northern Ireland
Athletics Federation Mr Brian Downing in attendance and also
to have Mr Sean Furey, MD of Sean Furey Insurances Ltd, who
is not only the sponsor of the Buncrana 5k but is also the sponsor
of the Furey Insurances 5k series 2008. Brian and Sean presented
the prizes.
Part of the reason for the big numbers is the fact that the
race is on two different Series of races in the NW. As well
as being the flagship race of the Furey Insurances 5K series(Derry
and Inis Eoghain) it is also part of the hugely successful
Donegal
Athletics Board Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure Mizuno Grand
Prix 2008 which is a series of 26 races which take place
throughout Donegal during the summer months.
A final thank you to everyone who helped out with the race.
Neart le Chéile!
Eoghan video clip of finish to
follow....
4th
June 08 ROBERTS TAKES VICTORY
IN BUNCRANA 5K
Gregory
Roberts recorded his fastest ever time for the distance to win
the Buncrana 5K sponsored by Furey Insurances.
It was Roberts second victory in the Series
after a win in the opening race at the Bay Road before sitting
out the second fixture two weeks earlier in Lisnaglevin.
The City of Derry athlete adopted his usual
tactic and hit the front from the gun. The was accompanied in
the early stages by Letterkenny GP Brian Thursby-Pelham, Gary
Crossan and Lisnagelvin winner Aaron Doherty.
And it was Doherty who was first to crack as
the other three pulled away on the road out toward Lisfannon.
But no one could match the motivation nor determination of Roberts
who escaped on the hills home toward Buncrana for an impressive
14 seconds victory in 15 minutes 17 seconds.
Thursby-Pelham got the better of Letterkenny
club mate Gary Crossan by six seconds for third with Crossan
recording 15:37 just two days after winning the Newry City Marathon.
Roberts’ elder brother Colin took fourth in
15:45 with Ivan Toner (15:46) and Aaron Doherty (15:50) making
up the top half dozen.
Thursby-Pelham was the leading M35 while other
category awards went to Neil Faulkner (M40/16:14), Gerry Duddy
(M45/16:57), Gerry O’Doherty (M50/17:18), Mal McCausland (M55/19:08)
and Kevin Toner (M60/18:47). City of Derry’s Michael Finnegan
(16:27) was the leading Junior (U20) Christy McMonagle’s 19:01
was a superb effort for a man of 64.
City’s Anne Paul was the winner of the most
competitive winner’s race to date with a time of 18 minutes
11 seconds. Paul overhauled long time leader Cathy McCourt who
held on for second in 18:16. Roisin Neary (18:44) was the first
Junior woman across the line in third.
Margaret Kelly (F35/18:46), Frances Judge (F40/19:43),
Ann Neary (F45/20:43) and Roisin Lynch (F55/24:44) were among
the other age group winners.
The race was a huge success with a record 180
finishers and some excellent organisation put together by the
Furey family.
Prizes were presented by the president of the
Northern Ireland Athletics Federation, Mr Brian Downing.
Meanwhile former national champion Gary Crossan
was the runaway winner of yesterday’s inaugural Newry City Marathon.
The Letterkenny athlete was well clear by the end of the first
five miles and continued to pull away for a facile victory in
two hours 36 minutes and one second.
The runner-up spot went to Willowfield’s Alistair
Duffield in 2:46:00 with local man Don Travers taking third
in 2:48:14.
Carndonagh’s Helena Crossan, who was second
in Belfast just three weeks earlier, made it a Donegal double
with a victory in the women’s race in 2:56:06. Martina Hawkins
(3:09:02) and Alison Adair (3:14:18) filled the minor positions.
Malcolm
.
