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18th
Oct 2010
Big Performances in Portugal,Comber
and Dublin
The weekends competitive action in Comber,Dublin and Lisbon
all had an international connection,with selection for next
months Masters International cross country at stake in the
first two venues and of course the Portugese venue saw the
local City of Derry Spartans half marathon squad line up in
the European Clubs championship whrere they finished in a
very creditible sixth place.This performance was complemented
by ten of the clubs talented Master runners putting themselves
on the short list for the NI and Irish squads by their efforts
in both Comber and Dublins Phoenix Park.
But first to a hot and hilly Torres Verdras,just north of
Lisbon where Aaron Doherty,Emmet McGinty,Brendan Murphy and
Gary Slevin combined to deliver the Spartans best ever team
finish in this prestigious European road race where they competed
as Irish champions.
The tough conditions certainly favoured the southern European
athletes with the crack Club Maratona de Portugal racing to
team success in a race won by another Portugese,Hermano Fereira
of Club Conforlimpa who posted an impressive 61m 24s winning
time
Back in 1994 and 1995 when the red vests last contested this
event it was also the Club Maratona boys who claimed the team
honours.
A terrific group effort from the Derry boys in difficult conditions
saw the scoring quartet led home by Doherty,23rd overall in
72m 35s with McGinty,27th in 73m 45s, Murphy,28th in 74m 15s
and Slevin 30th on 76m 29s.The latter pair both posted PB,s
and all four should be delighted with their strong runs in
a high class field. They were backed up by Gary Magee and
Cathal Logue on the road and Malcolm McCausland was the busy
Team Manager. Photos here
and here
Moving back home and to the cross country action which yielded
an excellent return for the local competitors at both Saturdays
Comber Cup meeting and Sundays Gerry Farnham races in Dublin.
Christy McMonagle won the M65 age category and Roisin Lynch
was runner up in the F60 age group in Dublin and both will
most definitely be selected on the Irish Masters squad for
yhe annual International cross country,back in Dublin(Santry
Demense) on 13th November next.
McMonagle who has the small matter of next Mondays Dublin
Marathon to negotitate first,will face clubmate Gerry Lynch
who won the M65 age group at Comber and will likely lead the
NI M65 squad into action at Santry. He will be joined in the
NI shade of green by Jackie McGinley F40, Anne Paul and Bridgeen
Byrne F45, Dermot Connolly M50 and M55 Peter Lilburn who impressed
in Comber on Saturday.
M45,s Damien McGinty and Declan McCarthy are also in the selectors
eyes for the Santry gig so the local representation could
once again be in double figures!
Dublin Marathon
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Staying with Dublin, City of Derry expect to mount a strong
challange for the Senior and Masters Mens team honours at
next Mondays Marathon. Gregory Roberts, Declan Reed, Seamus
Kealey and Dara Furey will front the Senior onslaught while
James Crampsey,Sean Laverty, Gerry Duddy and M65 individual
favourite Christy McMonagle spearhead a solid looking Masters
team.
Jordanstown Cross Country/Derry Primary Schools League
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This weekend brings a double bill of cross country with the
UU Jordanstown grounds hosting the Ulster/NI Even Age Group
championships alongside the Bobby Rea Memorial Races on Saturday
and Round 1 of the local Primary Schoolos League will bring
hundreds of P6/P7 pupils to the Sports Complex on Friday lunchtime...Girls
run at 12.30pm and the Boys at 12.45pm with both taking on
a 1K course out on the grounds.
Saturdays Age Groups will have more significance than usual
as while they perform the usual role as qualifing races for
the All Irelands,
this time around the Nationals will be on home ground,in Gransha
on Sunday 28th November and so the local juveniles will have
that extra incentive this weekend to grab a place--and a chance
to impress--on home turf next month!
Gerry Lynch 17/10/10.
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