|
11th
Dec 2010
White-Out Hampers Athletics
Training and Competition as Busy Weekend Looms
The almost total wipeout since the hugely successful National
Juvenile and Inter County cross country championships staged
at Gransha on the last Sunday in November, has seriously hampered
both training and competition with last Saturdays Malcolm
Cup meeting in Ballyclare cancelled as indeed was the previous
days local Primary Schools cross country League races at St
Columbs Park
However the roads in the Gransha Grounds and despite the
snow,the grounds itself,have seen some training sessions and
some runners have even taken to the local beaches as well
as resorting to the treadmillls in the Leisure Centres in
a bid to retain fitness levels. Hopes are high that conditions
will improve especially with a busy weekend of competitive
action looming. Next weekend brings a double header,Gransha
is due to host the annual North West Championships on Saturday
18th and then its Tullamore on the Sunday for the National
Novice championship which should have a serious local interest.
City of Derry Spartans are the defending National Novice Mens
club champions and heve a strong squad entered for Tullamore.
Supplemented by a Foyle Valley trio they should also be contendors
for Inter County medals and certainly at full strength both
squads will travel with some confidence to the Midlands venue
next weekend.
The selected Spartans squad comprises: Eoghan Furey,Noel Logan,
Brendan Murphy, Richard Johnston, Gary Slevin, Cathal Logue,
Pajo Hamilton, Mark Mullan and Tyrone McCullagh. This is a
squad capable of medalling in the club championship and with
the addition of Foyle Valleys Scott Rankin,Cathal McLaughlin
and Chris McGuinness the composite Derry team could also feature
prominently in the battle for County honours.
North West Cross Country
------------------------------
Gransh once again hosts the annual NW cross country meeting
on Saturday 18th December with a four race programme catering
for U13,s up to Masters on offer. Hopefully conditions will
be favourable for this City of Derry promition which serves
as a valuable pre Christmas run out for Juveniles, Seniors
and Masters with races scheduled for U13,s,U15,s,U17,s,U20,s,
Seniors and of course the Masters. Indeed it has been designated
a NI Masters Winter League ranking race and this should add
to the competitive edge on the day.
The programme starts with the U 13,s at 11.30am and concludes
at 12.20pm with the Open 6K race catering for the U20,s,seniors
and Masters (O35 to O70) Entries will be taken on the day
in Gransha at the U3A Foyle Building from 10.30am. More details
next week.
Poster here
Primary Schools Races Re Scheduled
------------------------------------------
Last Fridays Primary Schools second round race,scheduled for
St Columbs Park had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather
conditions and has been impossible to fit in before Christmas
so the remaining races will now be staged as follows:
Race 2...Friday 21st January at St.columbs Park and Race 3....Friday
28th January at the Sports Complex.
Both will have the usual 12.30 pm start times. The Girls go
off first as usual and check in will be from 12noon at each
venue.
Uk Athletics Awards 2010
-------------------------------
City of Derrys Eoghan Furey travelled to Loughborough last
weekend for the annual UK Athletics Awards. The Spartans were
nominated for the prestigious Club of the Year Award and Chris
Power was up for the Volunteer of the Year Award. Unfortunately
both nominees were unsuccessful but by all accounts both were
well in the running. Well done to Chris and to the club for
gaining these nominations and flying the flag for local athletics
in a highly competitive arena.....better luck next time!
Gerry Lynch 8/12/10
 
Eoghan Furey pictured with Christian Malcolm (Olympic finalist
200m) and Jenny Meadows (Silver medal at World Champs 800m)
at the UK Athletics Awards
|
