|
13th
Feb 2011
NI/Ulster Cross Country Championships
Spartans
Golden Girls and Silver Lining at Stranorlar!
Sunny and dry Stranorlar was the venue for the weekends NI/Ulster
Senior cross country championships where in the opening race,a
surprise but thoroughly merited Womens team gold set the scene
perfectly for City of Derry Spartans,but a unique championship
team double success was cruelly denied when a late charge
by the defending champions St Malachys relegated the male
red vests to yet another runners up finish in these championships
In an intense duel with old rivals Lagan Valley,
Aileen Morrison superbly led the female Spartans to a hard
fought two point victory in the 6K race to ensure that the
Bobby Rea Memorial Cup was brought Foyleside for the first
time in recent years. Aileen was a worthy individual silver
medallist behind Abbey AC,s impressive Gladys Ganiel O Neill
and ably backed up by Marina Campbell 7th, Jackie McGinley
10th, Bridgeen Byrne 13th and non scorer Catherine Lilburn
15th secured the Provincial championship team title.
However two points was also the deciding margin between the
male Spartans and Belfast outfit St Malachys in the mens 12K
championship race.With six to score here a real battle of
attrition ensued between the local squad and the 2009 and
2010 champions, Belfast clubs Annadale Striders and St Malachys
respectively, before a late ,late show from St Malachys speedy
duo Joe McAlaistar and Michael McKillop pushed them into the
gold team medals and consigned the Spartans to their third
runners up spot in a row.
There was a surprise individual winner in this one as Abbey
AC,s Paul Pollock made it a double individual gold with a
stylish run , seven seconds ahead of pre race favourite Annadales
Eddie McGinley with another Abbey man Andrew Agnew a further
twenty plus seconds further back in bronze. Declan Reed in
6th led home the scoring Spartans with Greg Roberts 8th, Diarmuid
Grant 10th, Emmet Mc Ginty 17th, Colin Roberts 18th and Aaron
Doherty 19th. Despite the winners sixth scorerbeing back in
26th place their superior early packing --fourth,fifth,twelft,thirteenth
and sixteenth-- just gave them the edge as it finished St
Malachys 76pts, City of Derry 78pts and Annadale 87pts.
Understandly the locals had mixed feelings--delighted with
their womens squad win, a golden podium place to break the
Senior championship drought of recent years but acute disappointment
at losing out yet again in the mens championship and thus
also missing out on an unique championship team double. Both
squads gave their all on the day.....Aileen Morrison may have
taken individual gol but for the time lost to a recent achilles
injury and Declan Reed, Gregory Roberts and Aaron Doherty
also were recent casaulties...but the future beckons and the
year is still in its infancy so its on to the next challange
for all concerned.
Female Gold
-------------
Saturdays womens team success in an admittidly small field,missing
2010 champions North Belfast and amazingly with only Inishowen
AC representing Donegal athletics, was nevertheless a hard
fought affair between the Spartans and the Lagan Valley squad
who boast an impressive championship pedigree.With Aileen
Morrison battling away up front despite being very conscious
of her dodgy achilles on the extremely bumpy surface,the Spartans
had the perfect talisman and the top triathlete did not disappoint.
She found the inform Gladys Ganiel O Neill to hot to handle
for individual gold but wih a storming final lap she blew
away the stubborn challange of Dromore,s up and coming Julie
Turley to claim second spot. Marina Campbell and Jackie McGinley
meantime were involved in a grim battle with Inishowens Teresa
Doherty and Lagan Valley pair Wendy Davis and Roma Harkness
all chasing a top six finish. Bridgeen Byrne and catherine
Lilburn were further back in support as the team race quickly
came down to the red vests versus Lagan Valley.
Marina Campbell who left for Australia yesterday gave herself
the perfect leaving present with a brilliant run for 7th place,just
missing out on 6th as Teresa Doherty got to the line just
two seconds ahead. Vitally she relegated the Lagan Valley
pair to 8th and 9th with their leading scorer in 5th and a
gallant 10th place run from Jackie McGinley,who almost gave
up with 2K to go,consolidated the Spartans position. The vasty
experienced Bridgeen Byrne was involved in a tussle with the
final Lagan Valley scorer and hung on grimly to finish 13th,one
place behind her rival and seal the team win for the Spartans...32pts
to 34pts with Inishowen third on 53pts. Catherine Lilburn
had run the Armagh 3K on the previous night but closed in
the local finishers in 15th spot.
Silver Lining Again For Men
------------------------------
The story of the red vests male silver medals has already
been outlined but what of the individual performances! Declan
Reed made light of his troublesome calf and led the local
challange superbly, only losing out to a late charge from
Joe Mc Alaistair in the latter stages of the 12K but his 6th
place finish marks his major improvement this winter. Greg
Roberts was 8th, a battling effort after his season was impaired
by injury some weeks ago and Diarmuid Grant in 10th improved
on his early season form to show signs of his old self. Emmet
McGinty was 17th and produced perhaps his best cross country
run in a while,getting into a competitive group mid way through
and hanging on well in a sprint to the line. Colin Roberts
18th and Aaron Doherty 19th were unhappy with their runs,the
latter turned out despite a long standing foot problem which
restricted his effort considerably and the elder Roberts finished
behind a few Annadale guys he had beaten in Antrim last month
.
Behind them Paddy Mhor Doherty showed well for 22nd, Cathal
Logue, off little mileage was 27th and will relish the spring/summer
action,Eoghan Furey and Pajo Hamilton battled on for 35th
and 36th and they too will look forward to the road and track
scene. Gavin Stevenson and Philip Donaghy sampled their first
Provincial Senior ,finishing39th and 40th.
Photos taken by Dara here
Bradley Is Back
-----------------
Connor Bradley announced his welcome return to competitive
action with a gun to tape victory at last Thursdays Armagh
International road races,clocking a swift 8m 33s for a quite
stunning 3,000 metres win around the famous Mall circuit.
His career seemed over a few years ago as he struggled to
overcome a recurring groin injury and while he did see some
action late last summer he worked hard over this winter and
shocked everybody with a magnificient run last week in Armagh.
He had a staggering eleven seconds to spare over North Down
rising track star Niall Robinson ,winner of last months Provincial
Junior cross countrty championship and will now go over 3000m
again this weekend at the Irish Indoors in Belfast. Great
to see him back in the red vest again and going so well.
|
