News

29th Dec 2010 Geencastle and Stranorlar Road Races

Lots of top class action then to look forward to in the coming weeks and 2010 signed off in fine style with,despite the foul weather,decent turnouts for last Mondays Greencastle 5 mile and the Finn Valley 5K.

Gareth Turnbull claimed his fourth Greencatle victory in six years,clocking an impressive 24m 39s,excellent running in the cold,misty and difficult underfoot conditions. The St.Malachys man was a clear winner finishing well ahead of runner up Chris Smith of Thames Valley Harriers on 26m 04s and Armaghs Shane Kerr who outsprinted Omagh Harrier Stephen Duncan,26m 14s to 26m 19s.

City of Derrys Seamus Kealey was 13th with 29m 40s as the weather clearly affected the quality and turnout at the Tyrone venue.There were 488 recorded finishers,well down on previous years and another visitor Haley Doherty Fourie,origionally from Castlederg but now based in England with Bracknell Harriers,clocking 34m 28 s to take the womens title just ahead of Ballygawley athlete Pauline McGurrin on 34m 35s.

Finn Valley teenager Pauric McLaughlin,the recently crowned Ulster Novice cross country champion took the honours at the Finn Valley 5K,posting 16m 38s to outrun Kevi Holian and Ian Ward on 16m 44s and 16m 52s with Eoghan Furey fifth on 17m 26s.Letterkenny native Catriona Jennings impressed with 17m 09s for a facile win in the womens race as just under 230 finishers were recorded--not bad for such a bad day.

January indeed will be a busy month with significant race action practially every weekend.Following this weekends races the action moves to Stormont on Saturday 8th for the first championship of the new year,the NI/Ulster Junior and Masters cross country. This one will as usual have a major local and north west input with medals very much in the minds of the athletes and clubs involved.The rescheduled National Novice championships is set for Tullamore on Sunday 16th and here again there should be local interest and then its back to Antrim on Saturday 22nd for the annual International cross country meeting.

All this sets things up nicely for February and the National Intermediate and Masters championships in Dublin on Sunday 6th;the NI/Ulster Senior in Stranorlar on Saturday 12th and then two weeks later its the National Senior in Santry on Saturday 26th February.The Track/Field athletes get their chance to showcase their wares at Belfasts Odyssey Arena which hosts the National Indoors championships on the weekend of 19th/20th February.Coming back home the final two rounds of the local Primary Schools cross country League will be on Friday 21st and 28th January, when places for the NI Finals at Mallusk on Wednesday 23rd February,will be resolved.

Gerry Lynch