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6th
Sept 2010
National Half Marathon Gold
For City of Derry Masters
Despite having to scratch their Senior Mens squad from the
National Half Marathon championships in Carlow at the weekend,due
to a combinationof injury and availability, a City of Derry
team nevertheless came home with a fistful of medals as the
M50 quartet of Sammy McAnaney,Dermot Connolly,Christy McMonagle
and Noel McMonagle grabbed team gold in their age category
and there was M50 individual silver for McAnaney and M65 individual
gold for Christy McMonagle.
On what was described as a brute of a course the red vests
ran brilliantly to make their mark at National level and compensate
somewhat for surrendouring their senior team title,won so
impressively last year in Stranorlar. McAnaney led them home,clocking
80m 23s on the tough two lap course to claim a well deserved
individual silver to complement his team gold. Connolly was
next in 84m 43s,a great effort from the local GP whose mileage
has been minimal in recent months.The elder McMonagle confidently
retained his M65 individual title with 92m 15s as he works
towards the upcoming Dublin Marathon and the young gun,Noel,
dipped his toes back in championship action after a long absence
with a 95m 38s clocking as the Derry men celebrated another
National success.
Meanwhile in Holland,Greg Roberts ran the prestigious Tilburg
10 mile road race on Sunday but was less than pleased with
his 51m22s clocking for a tenth place finish.The Dessies Run
winner lost contact around half way and despite battling hard
he failed to get close to his sub 50m target.He won the Ballycotton
10 back in March with a sub 51m run and expected an improvement
at the top quality Dutch race where back in 2005,Heile Gebrselassie
ran a 44,24s world best for the distance.However it was not
to be for the Spartan this weekend and he will have to re
focus and get back on track for the Great North Run.
Young AthletesIn Cross Channel Action
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The Spartans young athletes were in Gateshead and Manchester
over the weekend at yhe UK Schools Games and the UK YAL Finals
respectively.Anna Barr, Andrew Bolster,Mark McGarvey and Ryan
McParland were in the North East facing red hot Schools competition
and aquitted themselves well. Anna produced an 11m 09cm Triple
Jump for a fourth place spot and Andrew posted a decent 58.87s
400m Hurdles,finishing sixth in this demanding event.
Mark in the Long Jump and Ryan in the 100m Hurdles found the
going tough,both finishing eight in their events but the experience
of regular competition at such a high level will be invaluable
to this promising quartet.
In Manchester the depleted Spartans also finished eight in
the YAL Finals,they would have challanged for a six/seven
finish with a full complement but there were several excellent
performances by squad members over the day long event. A total
of 18 medals -two gold,four silver and twelve bronze-were
won. U15 High Jumper Claire Dougherty cleared 1m 60cm for
the win,narrowly missing at 1m 65cm. Ciara Armstrong also
at U15 level won the "A" Long Jump and picked up
two bronzes in the 100/200m.posting a new PB of 25.2s in the
latter.In the U13 High Jump Meagan McGarvey also claimed silver
and in a terrific 300m Relay,Roisin Laverty,Emma McCay,Hannah
McGowan and Tamara Boyle did brilliantly to take silver in
a photo finish. The silvers werecompleted by Roisin Laverty,s
impressive High and Long Jump double at U17 level.
Tesco Waterside Half Marathon
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Entries are still being taken for this Sundays Tesco Waterside
Half Marathon as the total climbs towards the 1000 mark.Race
HQ St Columbs Park Leisure Centre is open for business until
5pm on Saturday next and on race day,entries will be accepted
from 8am at the U3A Foyle premisses in the race venue,Gransha
Park.
Runners,Walkers and Fun Runners will all be catere for this
weekend with the choice of the full 13.1m Half Marathon,the
three Person Team Relay and not fogetting the 3K Family Fun
Run ensuring a massive turnout on Sunday morning in Gransha
for the Dery City Council organised event.
For more information check out www.derrycity.gov.uk/halfmarathon
or phone/call to St Columbs Park Leisure Centre 02871343941/347695.
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