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23rd
Dec 2010
Will St Stephens Day Road
Races Beat the Weather??
With winters icy grip still playing havoc with both training
and competition, local athletes letters to Santa no doubt
are no go zones for a traditional White Christmas and with
two attractive St. Stephens Day races scheduled at Srtanorlar
and Greencastle,the athletics fraternity would be delighted
to see the last of the snow and ice still covering the North
West.
The annual Finn Valley 5K road race in Stranorlar and the
equally popular Greencastle 5 mile in Tyrone would usually
attract around 2000 participants between them--club runners,joggers
and walkers--but if the current big freeze continues to seriously
restrict travel and impair the underfoot conditions,then both
events could be badly affected.
However Greencastle race organisor Oliver McCullagh is adamant
that his race will go ahead and promises that the testing
road circuit will be clear ansd safe for Sundays participants.
Indeed entries have been taken all this week in the County
Tyrone village and Oliver revealed he has alresdy signed up
some big names such as Joe McAlister,Stephen Scullion,Eddie
McGinley and James McIlroy to front the mens race. Cathy McCourt,
Kelly McNiece and reigning NI/Ulster senior womens cros country
champion Gladys Ganiel are expected to be the main female
contenders . Hopefully both travel and race conditions will
have improved significantly by the weekend and the event which
has the Foyle Hospice as its official Charity benificary,will
have another successful outing on Sunday. Start time is 1pm!
The Finn Valley 5K in Stranorlar has a 2pm start time and
as usual will be run out of the Finn Valley Centre.Organisor
Patsy McGonagle is also hoping for a break in the weather
for an event which has grown into another seasonal classic,attracting
huge numbers. Getting rid of those extra Christmas dinner
calories is a big motivator for many of the participants at
both venues so good luck to all concerned this weekend.
January Championship Cross Country
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Into the new year and the first of the championship cross
country action will be in Stormont on Saturday 8th January
when the NI/Ulster Junior and Masters titles will be up for
grabs. As ever North West clubs expect to be in the thick
of the action with City of Derry having confirmed both male
and female team entries in this prestigious provincial competition.
Foyle Valley may have some individual participants but are
unlikely to field teams in what usually is a fiercely contested
series of races.
The local red vests have named two Male Masters squads with
their A selection led by Colin Roberts,genuine medal prospects.
Annadale Striders,Finn Valley,Letterkenny and North Belfast
should be the pick of the opposition in this 8K race for the
over 35,s. Anne Paul will front a handy looking Spartans female
masters squad,Marina Campbell and Jackie McGinley lead the
Intermediate team and Amy McDaid fronts the U20 quartet.
The final race of the day is the Mens Junior and here the
red vests are among the fancied squads. Five of the recent
NI/Ulster Novice gold medal winning squad will be in the local
line up with Noel Logan likely to be a key man in the battle
for individual and team honours.The Junior is one of the hardest
titles to win but the Derry lads will draw on the clubs great
history in the race and hope to go one better than last years
silver team medals in Stranorlar.
Rescheduled National Novice Championships
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Sunday 16th January has been confirmed as the new date for
the National Novice cross country following the late postponement
of last Sundays date in Tullamore due to the weather conditions.
The local challange for honours in the mens race may now be
affected by proceedings in Stranorlar a week earlier but for
now,the Derry squad origionally selected will have the new
date in their diaries and will be keen to travel for a shot
at National honours.
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