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11th
September 2011
Duncan Wins Waterside Three In A Row In Terrible Conditions
The wet and windy conditions may have slowed
finishing times and severely tested the runners, walkers,
officials and spectators, but around 1500 participants turned
out for the 30th staging of Sundays Waterside Half Marathon
in the Gransha grounds to brighten up a miserable day and
cock a snoot at the tetchy weather gods.
Defending mens champion Stephen Duncan saw
off the weather and all his opposition with a quite stunning
67m 56s winning effort to go three in a row for the Waterside.
He was chased home in 69m 31s by Stephen Scullion of North
Belfast Harriers with City of Derrys Declan Reed posting a
new PB of 70m 20s for an excellent third place.
The in form Julie Balmer of North Down fought a tense duel
with Inishowens Helena Crossan before claiming the womens
crown in 84m 12s to the doughty Donegal womans 84m 25s with
defending champion Anne Paul of City of Derry on 86m 08s,
battling well for third. Both team races were tight affairs,
the three to score format saw Inishowen squeeze out last years
winners City of Derry with Tir Chonial in third in the womens
race while the male Spartans also lost their champion status
to North Belfast and the other local club Foyle Valley just
pipped Omaghh and Letterkenny for mens team bronze.
Duncan and Scullion went clear of Reed almost from the gun
and cut a tough pace despite the conditions. Scullion made
a few attempts to drop the Omagh man without success before
the defending champion made a decisive break in the Maydown
area around 10 miles, to go on for his three in a row in a
superb time given the weather. The Belfast runner acknowledged
post race that he had " nothing to offer" when Duncan
surged and lauded his rival as a " worthy and magnificent
NI half marathon champion".
Declan Reed produced a significant new PB for the distance,
despite the weather and running in isolation for practially
all the 13.1 miles. He was always out of reach of the leading
duo and with nobody in touch behind his run was truly exceptional,
clear evidence that he is well on track for a good one at
next months Dublin marathon. Lets hope the weather gods are
more benign that day Declan!
North Belfasts Alan O Hara took fourth in 72m 20s to consolidate
his clubs grip on the team title which was confirmed when
Connor Curran finished seventh in 74m 31s. National M45 champion
in Waterford a week earlier, Letterkennys Pauric McKinney
took fifth with 74m 02s and the Spartans Emmet McGinty in
sixth had a super run for 74m 17s. Another North Belfast man
Eamon White was in eight spot on 74m 33s and took the M40
first prize. Another red vest, the much improved Noel Logan
was next with a close to four minute PB of 74m 35s, after
a race long tussle with the Belfast pair and Paddy Mor Doherty
ran a good 75m 16s to complete the top ten.
Not far behind in eleventh was the leading Foyle Valley finisher
Pius McIntyre with 75m 31s and this fine run tagged on to
those of Cathal McLaughlin, 14th in 76m 28s and the 17th placed
Chris McGuinness with 77m 54s gave the local Valley boys a
narrow but well deserved team bronze medals finish.It was
a close run thing as there were a mere 24 seconds to the Omagh
trio who were themselves only 23 seconds in front of Letterkenny.
Close Womens Race
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As already mentioned the womens race was a tight run affair
with Julie Balmer taking a narrow 13 seconds win ahead of
former winner Inishowens Helena Crossan after a gripping duel
and Anne Paul saw off all her younger challangers for the
individual bronze. Derry native Lisa Sturgenor running in
North Belfast colours was fourth in 86m 21s, chasing Anne
Paul all the way home, Marina Campbell in fifth ran a substantial
new PB of 87m 03s to impress everyone and underline her improvement
and the top six was completed by Noreen McGettigan of Letterkenny
in 87m 42s.
The womens team championship went to Inishowen who led by
Helena Crossan had excellent support from her daughter Karen,
89m 02s for eight and twelth placer Evelyn McGinley on 95m
13s. Anne Paul, Marina Campbell and 16th placed Jackie McGinley
with 96m 48s were just over a minute behind for team silver
with another Donegal club Tir Chonail taking bronze to cap
a good day for womens athletics in the North West.
Age Group and Local Winners Categories
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Not all the age group winners were identified at the post
race prizegiving in Oakgrove College but locals who did get
in the honours included Christy McMonagle M65 winner with
a swift 90m 34s and Una Gavin F50. Marina Campbell added the
top loca femalel Finisher prize to her individual and club
team prizes as did Declan Reed for the male equivalent. Noel
Logan retained his leading Waterside male finisher title;
Foyle Valleys Dolores Quinn ran very well to take the female
Waterside honours, Paddy Mor Doherty and Jacqueline McGinley
were the top local Masters finishers.
A teenage City of Derry Spartans trio won the male Team Relay
and what surely is a bunch of locals, the Out the Liners,
were the leading Mixed Relay winners.
Two talented Wheelchair athletes Paul Hannon and Jim Corbert
also battled the elements successfully, finishing well up
in the oveerall standings and over 200 Walkers tackled the
10 Mile Challange Walk while a similar number of Fun Runners
sampled the Gransha Park grassland as the Clooney Road venue
burst out in an outpouring of energy and enthusiasm.
More details on all the category awards in the next issue!
Walkers result here
FIFTH and final effort
at the results is here
and as a pdf file here.
We will try and fix any errors as soon as we find them. Any
the you see please email fudgelarge@gmail.com and we will
see if we can fix it. Well done to all who took part and all
those who helped make it another fantastic event.
Race photos available to purchase soon from
Allison Hill photography here
NOTE: This service is from a private company, not from City
of Derry Spartans
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