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24th
Aug 2010
Spar Dessies Run Kicks off
Busy Road Race Agenda
As the summer threatens to say goodbye the road race season
hots up with three weeks of top class action kicking off this
Sunday 29th August at Gransha with the annual Dessies Run
set to attract big numbers for the popular three lap 10K in
the Clooney Road venue. Carlow is the venue a week later,Sunday
September 5th for the National Half Marathon championship
with the local Spartans travelling to defend their senior
mens team title and then on Sunday September 12th its back
to Gransha for the 29th staging of the Waterside Half Marathon
which this year has a target of 1500 participants.
But this week is all about Dessies Run,one of the most popular
races on the local calendar and which this year is an integral
part of the new Spar Grand Prix 10K Series. Spar have linked
up with Athletics NI and promoting club City of Derry Spartans
and Dessies Run was
an automic selection for the five race series. The event commerates
the late Dessie McNulty,a former Sparta AC club captain and
has been a "must do" on the local scene for many
years. Originally run out of the Sports Complex,due to traffic
concerns it moved to Gransha and last year with the proximity
of the Waterside Half,the distance reverted to 10K.
The distance is an ideal blow out for the Half Marathon hopefuls
and indeed for the recent Furey Insurances 5K Series participants
who want to sample a longer race.A massive entry is expected
and to cater for it the organisors will close off the inner
lane of the Clooney Road Dual Carriageway,albeit on a smaller
scale as that required for the Half Marathon.
The usual three lap,flat course with a revised start and finish
will be used and Race HQ will be at Oakgrove Integrated College
in the Gransha Grounds. Entry can be made online at www.niathletics.org
Entry forms can be downloaded there,at www.sparta-athletics.co.uk
or picked up at all local Fitness Clubs and Derry City Council
Leisure Cenrtes. Additionally emailing fudgelarge@gmail.com
Subject "Dessies Run" will facilitate an entry.
More info can be obtained from 07702006667/07766477533.
Race Packs
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Race Packs including commerative T shirts can be collected
at Oakgrove on Saturday 28th between 12noon and 4pm and again
on Sunday morning 29th between 9 30am and 11 30am,Entries
will also be accepted at thes times on both days.There are
Spar Goody Bags for everyone and a £1200 prize fund
for the leading finishers in a range of categories from U20
to O70, both male and female.
Early entry is recommended as is early race pack collection
as no doubt there will be the usual race morning rush of late
entries. In addition there is a financial incentive as entry
by this Thursday is £10/£11 but after that jumps
to £12 or E15. So dont delay,get your entry sorted now,you,ll
arrive at the start line on Sunday morning all the better
for it and raring to go!!
Half Marathon Double Date
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The National Half in Carlow on Sunday week is likely only
to involve the more competitive club runners locally with
City of Derry set to travel with a senior mens squad and a
male Masters O50 selection.Perhaps some of these may double
up but the Waterside a week later
will certainly involve hundreds more local runners,joggers
and walkers as the long running local classic gears up to
welcome around 1500 participants.
For Information on the Waterside visit www.derrycity.gov.uk/halfmarathon
You,ll find everything you need to know there including the
fact that it is possible to tackle the 13.1 miles in bite
size chunks via the 3 Person Team Relay format. Otherwise
call 02871347695 for information.
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