News

11th April 2011 FUREY INSURANCES 5K SERIES RACE 1

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.

Promoting club City of Derry Spatrans comfortably retained the mens ANI 5K road team championship via runner up Greg Roberts,15m 17s; bronze medallist JP Williamson,15m 31s and in fifth spot,the leading M35 Paddy Doherty on 15m 45s. Letterkenny AC and Foyle Valley ,led home by fourth paced Scott Rankin,15m 35s were the silver and bronze medallists.

North Down took the womens team honours,packing impressively to outrun Finn Valley and City of Derry. Roberta Dornan posted 18m 23s for an impressive indivual bronze behind runner up Cathy McCourt on 17m 53s and was well supported by Debbie Matchett 9th and Ange Perrott 11th.

Perfect racing conditions, a lap course and terrific spectator input all contributed to a top class event and the next outing in the Series will be on Wednesday 11th May out of the Lisnagelvin Leisure Centre in Derrys Waterside---another flat three lap circuit awaits.
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Back to last Wednesdays Bay Road 5K which got the 2011 Furey Insurances Series off to a brilliant start with Paddy Hamilton and Teresa McGloins top quality new course records of 14m 39s and 17m 6s respectively. A record entry of over 180 produced an excellent racing spectacle on the flat,fast course with the almost perfect conditions and fantastic specator input adding to the mix on the night. Promoting club City of Derry retained their NI team championship with good runs from Greg Roberts 2nd; JP Williamson 3rd and Paddy Mhor Doherty 5th. The red vests were well clear of Letterkenny AC and city rivals Foyle Valley, who had 4th placed Scott Rankin supported by Paddy Nicell 24th and Eamon Doherty 25th for team bronze.

Teresa McGloin was too hot for defending champion Cathy McCourt of North Belfast Harriers who was disappointed with her 17m 53s and third placed Roberta Dornan ran 18m 23s to lead her club to the team championship gold,4 points ahead of Finn Valley. Jackie McGinley 8th, Catherine Lilburn 12th and Amy McDaid 13th combined to sive the female Spartans team bronze.

Age Group Winners
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Local runners were to the fore in the battles for the various age category awards. Amy McDaid took the female U20 prize; Rosie O Brien of Foyle Valley was the top F40 and the Spartans duo ,Bridgeen Byrne and Roisin Lynch topped the F45 and F60 categories. Paddy doherty led home the M35,s;Declan McCarthy and Peter Lilburn claimed the M45 and M55 prizes,the latter with an impressive 17m 57s clocking.

Gerry Lynch

Special thanks to University of Ulster Magee for the use of the facilities and to Donnelly and Taggart Group for individual race sponsorship.

Results here Photos of the race by Malcolm here and of the prize giving by Dermot here. Thanks lads. Report to follow