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4th Aug 2010SPARTANS ARE THE MC CAIN’S NORTHERN IRELAND YOUNG ATHLETES LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

The City of Derry Spartans are the Northern Ireland Young Athletes League Champions for the fourth year in succession. The Spartans travelled to Antrim Forum on Saturday in the hope of securing this title and certainly did it in style.

Lagan Valley, Regent House and North Down were main opposition and whilst the Spartans were pre competition favourites, these other teams had all their big guns out.

The Young Athletes League sponsored by ‘Mc Cain’s’ was run over three Rounds held in Antrim , Derry/ Bangor & Magherfelt, with the top seven team qualifying for the league final on Saturday at the Antrim Forum.

The big prize for the victorious team was qualification for the UK Finals in Manchester in early September.

City of Derry Spartans has a 72 strong team, covering girls and boys events under 13, 15 and 17. The whole spectrum of events, 80 in total were covered, from the hammer throw and 75m sprints to 1500 m Steeplechase and relays and points given based on finishing place , therefore every point was crucial from the winners to those in 7th spot.

In the under 13 Girls age group, the top performers were Megan Mc Garvey in the High Jump , Lauren Gallagher High Jump( B ) , Victoria Boyce 75m Sprint, Lea Casey 800m ( B) & Erin Coyle Shot ( B ), all winners. In the boys U13 top points scorers were Jimmy O’Neill in the hurdles, 200m & high jump, Oran Fox in the Long Jump and 100m , Shea Mc Devitt 200m & 1500m and the Sweidan brothers in the sprints , throws and jumps,

The U15 age groups proved to very competitive. Winners in the Girls were Ciara Armstrong, Claire Dougherty, Jenny O’Brien and Amy Jackson. Victorious in the Boys U15 were Jack McCloskey in the sprints and Shane Mc Gowan in the 400m & 800m . B string winners were Conor Breslin in the 800m & Ruaidhri O’Neill in the Hurdles. Martin Mc Geady won the B High Jump & Diarmuid Doherty was the B Long Jump winner.

U17 winners were Anna Barr in the Triple and Roisin Laverty in the Long Jump. Tamara Boyle had an excellent run coming 1st in the 300m Sprint, also winning the B 800m . Emma Mc Cay came out top in the High Jump. Rebecca Mc Laughlin won the B 300m . Fiona Mallett & Christina accumulated massive points in 1500m , 3000m , & 300h . The boys U17 were dominated by Andrew Bolster ,in the 400m & 400m Hurdles , Mark Mc Garvey Long Jump & Hurdles and Ryan Mc Parland 200m and Hurdles. Conor Doherty won the 3000m & runner up in the B steeplechase . Sean Harkin won the A steeplechase. In the B 400m Oran Lusby was victorious as was Michael Doherty 400m Hurdles B.

There were nine relays in total with City of Derry winning five.

Captains Dale Kelly & Hannah Mc Gowan collected the ‘Jimmy Murray Memorial Trophy’ for the winning team, and all the Spartans finished the day with a lap of honour.

Trophies for ‘athlete of the match’ were given to Michael Cartin in the U15Boys , Clare Dougherty in the U15 Girls and Anna Barr in the U17 Girls.

The Club will continue to train hard throughout August in Anticipation of the Mc Cain’s UK Finals on Saturday 4th September with the mentors already making preparations for this prestigious event.

Photos here, here and here.