Newsletter 15th January 2017

Lough Fea 5k

On Saturday 7th January 2017, County Tyrone based club Sperrin Harriers welcomed athletes from across the province to the second race of their ongoing Winter League Trail Series.  On this occasion, competitors negotiated a 5k route around Lough Fea, in the foothills of the scenic Sperrin Mountains.

The men’s race was closely contested with only ten seconds covering the first three places. Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) took first place in 16.30 with Michael Crawley (City of Derry AC) second 16.35 and Mark Long (Foyle Valley AC) third in 16.40.

Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) 19.35, 35th place overall took first place in the ladies race closely followed by Grace Kelly (Mid Ulster AC) 19.41 with Anne Paul (City of Derry Spartans) 20.51 completing the podium places.

Springwell Results – Chris Millar 22nd 18.41, Ciara Toner 35th 19.35, Thomas Moore 41st 19.54, Andrew Wilmot 87th 23.01, Pamela Howe 105th 24.13, Monica McCarthy 110th 24.33, Paul Dornan 123rd 25.09, Majella McAteer 136th 25.48, Julie Anne Millar 137th 25.49, Bob McLaughlin 161st 27.43, Elaine Montgomery 165th 28.13, Judith McLaughlin 167th 28.19.

IAAF Antrim International XC

On Saturday 14th January 2017 the IAAF staged its latest event at CAFRE's Greenmount Campus in Antrim.  The well organised event, hosted by Athletics NI, also included the British Athletics XC Challenge and was part of the ongoing Athletics NI XC League.

Before the International events there was a full programme of competitive age category races ensuring that the atmosphere had built sufficiently for the 'main' events.  There were wins for Timothy McCracken (Springwell RC) and Lauren Madine (East Down AC) in the Primary Schools category, Dylan McBride (Willowfield Harriers) and Anna Hedley (Fife AC) in the U13’s and David Dow (Cambridge & Colebridge AC) and Lily Jane Evans-Haggerty (Victoria Park City of Glasgow AC) in the U15’s. The Under 17 and IAAF Under 20 races were combined, with Mathew Willis (Wrexham AAC) and Jodie McCann (DSD AC) taking the Under 17 titles and Jonathan Shields (North England) and Ellie Wallace (Westbury Harriers) winning the Under 20 races.

In the U17 girls race some excellent running by Niamh Carr 11th 15.35, Hermione Skuce 16th 16.05, Elle Beveridge 18th 16.18 and Rebekah Hunter 20th 16.36 saw Springwell claim victory from Clonliffe Harriers AC in a very competitive race.

Winning Team U17 girls IAAF XC L – R Niamh Carr, Rebekah Hunter, Coach Alistair Bratton, Hermione Skuce and Elle Beveridge.

The penultimate race of the day was the ladies 5.6k event with Fionnuala McCormack (Ireland) leading the way early on, closely followed by Caroline Kipkirui (Kenya), Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) and Birtukan Adamu (Ethiopia). Unfortunately on the second of the three laps European XC Champion Fionnuala lost a shoe in the muddy conditions.

Caroline Kipirui made the most of the incident and the Kenyan quickly opened a gap of fifty metres between her and Gotytom Gebreslase, who was just ahead of Fionnuala McCormack and Birtukan Adamu by the start of the final lap. Caroline Kipkirui made short work of the remaining 1.8k before breaking the tape in 18.53 for first place.  Gotytom Gebreslase secured second place in 19.35 before Birtukan Adamu out sprinted Fionnuala McCormack to claim third place in 19.38.

The men were next to take to the start line for their 8.2k event with Scotlands Lachlan Oates pushing the early pace, but as the second lap started it was Abraham Cheroben (Bahrain), Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya) and Andy Vernon (England) who occupied the top three place places. The places remained unchanged through the final lap until Olympic Champion Conseslus sprinted clear to secure victory despite the best efforts of Abraham Cheroben.  Conseslus recorded 24.36 for first place with Abraham taking second place in 24.37 – Andy Vernon continued his good run of form at the Antrim International XC with another podium spot, taking third place in 24.56.

In the team event Neil Johnston 18th 27.45, Luke Dinsmore 35th 29.34, Jonathan McKee 36th 29.38 and Rhodri Jones 56th 31.13 took second place behind Newcastle AC with North Belfast Harriers in third.

In the various age categories Springwell RC had a number of podium places. Gerry O’Doherty continued his excellent XC season with victory in the M60 category in 35.02. In the Male Junior category Luke Dinsmore took third place in 29.34 with Dale Corbett fifth in 34.02.

Springwell Results

Flahavans Primary School Boys – Timmy McCracken 1st 5.20.

U13 Girls – Niamh McGarry 11th 6.43 and Toni Donnelly 31st 7.29.

U13 Boys – Roan Wilson 49th 8.42

U17 Girls - Niamh Carr 11th 15.35, Hermione Skuce 16th 16.05, Elle Beveridge 18th 16.18 and Rebekah Hunter 20th 16.36

Senior Men – Neil Johnston 4th 27.45, Luke Dinsmore 35th 29.34, Jonathan McKee 36th 29.38, Rhodri Jones 56th 31.13, Paul Thompson 69th 32.06, Stephen Fillis 72nd 32.19, Dale Corbett 95th 34.02, Thomas Moore 105th 34.44, Colin Loughery 106th 34.46, Gerry O’Doherty 111th 35.02, Andy Dowey 115th 35.16, Peter Jack 172nd 39.46, Paul Campbell 176th 40.08 and Paul Dornan 192nd 43.00

Parkrun

A high tide and strong wind left conditions very difficult for Saturday Portrush parkrun.

First finisher was Keith Dawson in 20.13 - 19th time in 32 appearances and first lady, Karen McLaughlin in 22.27 - 39th time in 92 appearances.

This week there were 122 runners, of whom 9 were first timers and 2 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 9 different athletics clubs took part.

Results

Portrush - Karen McLaughlin 22.27, Nigel Armstrong 22.38, Robert Nethery 24.13, Gary Kendall 24.24, Mervyn Thompson 24.40, Robert Workman 24.46, Jonno Johnson 25.11, Pamela Howe 27.02, Peter Jack 27.03, Fergal Mackle 27.52, Kay Hack 28.01, Andrew Wilson 28.08, Donna Costello 28.44, Molly Blee 29.03, Patricia Craig 29.22, Jack Blee 29.32, atherine Byers 31.36, Rachel Blee 32.11, Debbie Tutty 32.37, Rebecca Clarke 32.38, Elaine Montgomery 33.51, Emma Birrell 33.55, Kenneth Bacon 39.17, Fiona Walls 41.17, Jim Blee 49.46

Belfast Victoria- Alistair Shaw ( no times given out due to course alteration)

Ormeau - Catherine Shaw- 24.39

Limavady- Chris Denton 18.02, David Shiels 20.08, Eoghan Gourmley 21.26 PB