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9th
September 2011
Waterside Half Marathon Celebrates 30 Successful Years This
Sunday
Duncan
and Paul Face Strong Challenges To Defence Of Titles
Sunday morning next will bring in excess
of 1500 runners and walkers to the Gransha grounds for the
30th staging of the Waterside Half Marathon with participants
having the choice of the classic 13.1 mile race distance,
the new 10 Mile Walk Challenge or the 2K Family Fun Run.
The Derry City Council organized event caters
for all standards, at the sharp end it incorporates the NI
Half Marathon championship with top club runners vying for
honours while hundreds more challenge themselves at a lesser
pace and distance.
The up front half marathon action will feature a direct head
to head between defending mens champion Stephen Duncan of
Omagh Harriers and North Belfast Harrier Stephen Scullion
who look set to scrap it out for the top spot. Duncan won
in 2009 and 2010 and would dearly love to do three in a row
but the talented,yet injury prone Scullion has the younger
legs and if his endurance is good ,could be the man on Sunday.
Duncan is said to be targeting a 65/66min finish and the Belfast
man could be the spur for fast times for both of them.
As we go to press local Spartan Declan Reed heads the opposition
but with entries being taken right up to an hour before the
10 30am start who knows who may appear on the start line come
Sunday. Reed ran a 31m 19s PB over 10K last week in Dessies
Run and is in shape to bust his half marathon best and run
sub 70mims. That will be neded to make the medals and hopefully
the Spartan,who is traing hard for the upcoming Dublin Marathon
can be rewarded with a big performance.
His clubmate Anne Paul comes back to defend her 2010 crown
and among the confirmed challangers will be North Downs Julie
Balmer and Roberta Dornan and another Spartan, the rapidly
improving Marina Campbell. Runaway Dessies Run winner Maria
McCambridge may also make the short trip from Letterkenny
to chase the £500 first place prize money and as in
the up front mens race the sharp end could be really competitive
here as well.
The local Spartans are the defending mens and womens team
champions but will face tough opposition on Sunday. Jackie
McGinley should complete a strong top trio for the red vests
but North Down, Letterkenny, if spearheaded by McCambridge,
and possibly Inishowen , Springwell and Dromore could threaten
the local women.
The strength of the male Spartans squad has not yet been identified
and a strong North Belfast team will probably start favourites.
The Foyle Valley boys could go well with the likes of Cathal
McLaughlin, Chris McGuinness and Pius McIntyre in the field
while Inishowen and Letterkenny will not be far from the heavy
duty up front team action as well.
Start Times and Entry Details
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The half marathon is set to go at 10 30am….the Wheelchair
competitors including Clonmany man Karol Doherty, start one
minute earlier and the leading finishers are expected back
at the Gransha finish not long after 11 30am.
The 10 Mile walkers and there is are a few hundred of them,
get the gun at 10am and the 2K Family Fun Run has a 10 45am
start time.
Entries for all three events will be taken at St Columbs Park
Leisure Centre up to 4pm tomorrow Saturday and then on Sunday
morning in Gransha from 8am. Entries will close thirty minutes
before each start time and all intending participants should
make every effort to be inside the Gransha site well before
their start time. This is important as traffic will be heavy
in the area and lets hope no one misses a start time Race
HQ is in the U3A Foyle building in the grounds,close to the
start and finish areas.
The Fun Run is ideal for all those who may have a family member
or friend out in the half marathon or walk. It will be an
enjoyable way of passing the time and thers also a large marque
hosting lots of entertainment between 10 30am and 1pm.
4th
September 2011
Waterside Half Marathon
Many runners at Wednesdays Dessies Run in
Gransha will be back there in just over a weeks time for the
30th staging of the Waterside Half Marathon and the biggest
race in the North West certainly was a popular topic of conversation
at the post race awards ceremony earlier this week.
The entry apparantly has risen dramatically
in the past week and although the "big names" have
generally yet to show their hand no doubt the standard of
competition will be of the usual high quality. Defending womens
champion Anne Paul of City of Derry has confirmed her participation
and her challangers will begin to be identified as next week
unfolds. Certainly Maria McCambridge a previous winner, may
be a serious rival after her terrific Dessies Run performance
and others will emerge in the wake of this weekends action
in Waterford.
Race day is of course Sunday 11th September and enrties will
be taken right up to 9 30am that morning. Information on the
race,including the 3 Person Relay format and the 10 Mile Walk
Challange from 02871343941 or at www.derrycity.gov.uk/halfmarathon
The Waterside also hosts the NI Championships for individuals
and club teams and this as usual will spice up the sharp end
of the race.
Local clubs City of Derry and Foyle Valley are expected to
field strong squads and we will have news on this and the
quality of the field next week.
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