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25th
Nov 2010
Gransha Grabs the Weekend
Headlines.......National Juvenile/Inter Counties Cross Country
this Sunday
Its all systems go for the biggest athletics weekend of the
season so far and argueably the most significant in the chequered
history of local athletics as Derry distance runners contest
tomorrows NI 10K road championships in Belfast and on Sunday,
Gransha hosts the National Juvenile and Inter County cross
country championships with the top locals taking on the best
from all over Ireland.
An epic weekend indeed with the eleven race Gransha programme
set to serve up a rare feast of top quality competitive race
action with the leading U20,U23 and Senior talent in the country
set to strut their stuff ,in search of places in the Irish
squads for next months European championships in Portugal
and of course the much coveted National Individual and County
honours.
The extensive Juvenile programme kicks things off at 11 30am
with the Girls U12 2000 metres and runs through the U14,s,16,s
and 18,s before the older U20,s and the combined U23/Senior
races which conclude with the much anticipated Mens 10,000
metres race at 2 50pm. The spectator friendly Gransha course
is in excellent condition despute the recent weather and while
some mud is inevitible,overall the terrain is conducive to
good running and some intense,tension filled action is guaranteed
on Sunday from the 1500 or so athletes who will travel from
all parts of the country for the action.
Both Senior races will produce new champions as the 2009 winners,Mary
Cullen of Sligo and Andrew Ledwith of Meath are not available
to defend their titles. Wicklow international steeplechaser
Fionnuala Britton,currently in great form is the womens favourite
but watch out for Northern pair Kerry Harty and teenage sensation
Ciara Mageen, both running for County Down and the blonde
head of Dubliner,Hazel Murphy who had a very impressive recent
track season.
Anne Paul heads a strong Derry squad with the Oak Leaf women
looking good for Grade B team medals,a target which should
provide strong motivation for the local athletes on their
home turf. Marina Campbell,Jackie McGinley,Dawn McDaid,the
Springwell trio of Alision Rankin,Gillian Wasson and Gemma
Turley plus Rosie O Brien complete a competitive Derry squad
which may not trouble the stronger counties but certainly
is expected to perform well in the chasing pack and hunt down
an elusive All Irelandteam medal.Their 8K race is scheduled
for a 2 10pm start,immediately prior to the Mens race.
Quality Mens Race
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Clonliffe Harriers Mark Kenneally who recently ran a 48m 17
s ten miler in Portsmouth is considered to be the favourite
in the mens race but a doubt persists over his involvment
and that of St Malachys Joe Mc Alister, but a confirmed entrant
is Clare legend Seamus Power who will line up chasing an unbelieveable
tenth Inter Counties individual win. Power turned forty a
few weeks ago and had a brilliant run in last months prestigious
Gerry Farnham cross country in the Pheonix Park,finishing
runner up, so he is keen to notch title number ten and a place
on the plane to Portugal in December. He will certainly be
prominent on Sunday,emboldened perhaps by memories of his
last visit Foyleside in 2000 when he won the Waterside Half
Marathon in an impressive 65m 25s.
Greg Roberts,hopefully recovered from his Dublin Marathon
exertions leads the Derry county challange and will look for
a
top ten finish as he re focuses and prepares for the championship
races in January and February.The Derry squad are A graded
due to the local Spartans excellent showings at National level
in the past few years and medals may just be beyond them at
this stage. However the home ground factor and their latent
potential could well surprise everyone so dont be shocked
to see the Oak Lef vests threatening a few vaunted reputations
as the action hots up on Sunday.
Aaron Doherty,Declan Reed another man with Dublin hopefully
out of his legs, Diarmuid Grant,Brendan Murphy,Emmet Mc Ginty,Scott
Rankin,Kieran Hurley,Colin Roberts,Chris McGuinness,Cathal
McLaughlin and Cathal Logue will also carry the Derry colours
and with six to score in the team contest will be keen to
figure in medal contention with North West rivals Donegal
and the big guns of Dublin, Cork,Antrim andLaois among others.
Aoife to Medal?
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Young Spartan Aoife Laverty was an impressive winner of the
Ulster Girls U14 individual title at Jordanstown some weeks
ago and could be right up there again in Gransha. She will
certainly start among the potential medallists in her 4000
metres race and has the tenacity to stay in contention in
what will be a cracking tussle. Her City of Derry clubmates
have also qualified a Girls U16 squad comprising Amy Jackson,Tamara
Boyle,Fiona Mallet,Jenny O Brien and Emma McCay.They face
a big challange but will give it their all as will the County
Derry Boys U16 squad of Shane McGowan,Connor Breslin and Quintan
Wylie of the Spartans plus Springwell pair Connor Christie
and Robbie Craig and Mid Ulsters John O Neill. Christie won
the Ulster title and on a good day could be a medal contender
again this weekend.
Finally the County Men U20 squad of JP Williamson,Connor Doherty,Paddy
Doherty and Adam Wilson go in an ultra competitivve age group
which with European places at stake will be a red hot test
for this Foyle Valley/Spartans line up. Williamson is nursing
a knee injury but is expected to be able to front the team
challange in their 6K race at 1 25pm.
Spectators are advised to get to Gransha in good time as there
may well be traffic delays as competitors and suppourters
converge on the Waterside venue,not to mention the time spent
in finding parking places as there will be restrictions close
to the course.
Seeley 10K
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Belfasts Ormeau Park hosts the NI 10K road championship as
part of tomorrows Seeley Cup race and with Sundays action
grabbing most of the local attention there will be a much
diluted North West challange. However both City of Derry and
Foyle Valley will travel in numbers as the Seeley boasts a
new course and PB,s may be available for the participants.
Team honours look out of the question but the Masters in action
can have a crack at age group honours and it also is included
in the NI Masters Winter League scoring races.
Gerry L
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