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SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY DISTRICT C XC 2010
Springwell Running Club had 15 Junior runners representing their schools on Tuesday 2 February at the tough University of Ulster Coleraine course for the 2010 District C Cross Country. Weather was fine, but the already tough, hilly course was very mucky in parts, most notably on the dreaded University hill.
First up was Niamh Tweedie and Zara McLaughlin, Coleraine High School in the Minor Girls race which was won by Aoife Laverty, Thornhill College in 8:22 with Niamh who chased hard the whole race, 2nd in 8:35 and Zara 13th in 10:03 a superb display from both girls.
In the Minor Boys Luke Dinsmore, Coleraine Inst was unfortunate not to win, when leading the race at the halfway point he lost a shoe, but ran on bare foot to take a brilliant 2nd in 8:02, Ailbhe Kendall, Dalriada, came 57th in 9:47.
In the Junior Girls Robyn Ennis, Dalriada finished 53rd in 16:45 on her least favoured surface.
Conor Christie, Cross & Passion, once again led from start to finish in the Junior Boys race finishing in a comfortable 1st place in 15:31, Ryan Murray, Coleraine Inst had one of his best races to date, finishing 9th in 17:00, with Ryan Ennis, Dalriada, using this race as a warm-up for the Age Group Indoor races at the week end finishing 13th in 17:15, Brian Tweedie, Coleraine Inst had a good race to finish 18th in 17:28 and Chris Surgeoner, Dalriada finished 57th in 19:05, out of 120 runners.
The Intermediate Girls race saw Deborah Gilliland, Coleraine High School take the rest of the field on from the gun leading for the first lap, only to fade slightly in the second lap, holding on for a brilliant 4th in 14:34, Natalie Costello, Loreto has improved with every race and once again put in a well paced race to finish 7th in 15:40, whilst twin sister Shannon, running her first competitive race finished 22nd in 18:10. Club new comers Sarah McKinley and Mairead McKeague, Cross & Passion found the going tough finishing 29th in 19:08 and 42nd in 21:12 respectively.
A lot of the Clubs runners have now qualified for the Ulster Finals in Mallusk on the 24 February as either part of a team or as an individual, where they will compete along side Primary school club mates, Danielle Graham, Helen Tweedie, Aine McKinney, Charlotte Parr, Leah Gillfillan, Ross Moore, Alex Conkey and Jamie Nolan, who had already qualified via the Primary Schools Cup.
All these junior athletes have trained very hard all winter and are now reaping the benefits of their hard work the Springwell Club would like to wish them the best of luck, come the day.
Jim Breen remains unbeaten in the MO55 age category at the Sperrin Harriers Winter League. The fifth race in the series was the Lough Fea 5K on Saturday. Omagh’s Jason Walsh led the field home in 16:52 and City of Derry’s Olivia McCullagh was first female in 21:55. Jim won his age category in 19:33.
Roe Valley Trail race entry forms
Entry forms are now available here for the Roe Valley Country Park Trail Run 8k on Saturday the 20th of February in Limavady. Please see entry form for details. A reduced pre-race entry fee is available until the 13th of February, so don't delay!
New members and renewals- Updated membership forms are available in the 'Join Us' section in the Main Menu
NI & Ulster Junior XC Championships
Springwell athletes travelled to Stranorlar on Saturday for the NI & Ulster Junior Cross Country Championships. These championships had been scheduled for the 9 January but were cancelled due to the weather. Conditions were soft under foot with a light sprinkling of snow on parts of the tough 2K lap.
Alison Rankin and Jim Platt went in the combined ladies and male vets over 65 4K race. Alison came home in 17:20 and Jim in 19:55. The race was won by North Belfast’s Cathy McCourt in 15:44.
The male vets race over 8K was won by Omagh Harriers Stephen Duncan in 26:51. Springwell had five representatives in this race. First home for the club was Philip Mullan in 32:05 followed by Gerry O’Doherty 33:04, Bryan Edgar 33:15, Leslie Ashe 34:32 and James McMullan 36:51.
The main race of the day the Junior Championship over 10K was won by St Malachy’s Michael McKillop in 34:33. Springwell’s two representatives in this race were the Marcus and Michael Devine. Marcus came home in 53:41 and Michael 59:33.
Jim Breen was Springwell’s sole representative at the 4th race in the Sperrin Harriers Winter League on Saturday at Drum Manor. This 10K race is run over 2 laps, with a fast start for about 800 meters, then you are climbing for over a mile before you get some better running; but all the sharp twists and turns don't make it that easy!
The major prize winners were Omagh’s Martin Cox36:23 and Sperrin’s Karen Alexander 38:31. Jim maintained his unbeaten run in the MO55 age category coming home in 41:33.
