Athletics: Bronze for Cormac in Ballyclare

LARNE Athletic Club members took part in the annual McConnell Shield Cross Country Races at The Sixmile Park in Ballyclare on Saturday.

This was the second in the series of races that make up the new Cross Country league sponsored by Athletics Northern Ireland. Races were held right across the age spectrum from under-14s to over-60s and it was one of Larne’s brightest young talents who set the tone for a very successful day for the club.

In the Boys’ under-16 race, Cormac Glenn showed his senior colleagues a thing or two about how to run on the grass, producing a fine run and a barnstorming finish to take a well-deserved third place and bronze medal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Next up were the Senior/Vet Females and over-60 males. Cathy McCourt of North Belfast led this one from the start and won by some distance from second-placed Roberta Dornan. Geraldine Quigley and Davy Henderson both ran fine races for the club with times of 21:46 and 24:20, respectively. Geraldine can now set her sights firmly on the upcoming international race in Glasgow and, for Davy, this will hopefully provide a good warm-up for a successful winter racing season.

The Senior/Vet Males race was the last event of the day. It was won by north Belfast athlete with Alan O’Hara in a time of 28:19. Just three seconds behind him was Richard Johnston. The Larne contingent produced a number of fine performances in this race but two stand-out runners are worthy of special mention. Davy Clarke (30.59) has now developed into one of the strongest cross country racers in the over-50s, or any age category, for that matter. On Saturday he again won the male vet 50 category and finished in a highly-impressive 18th place, only 41 seconds behind Justin Maxwell (30:18) who was first home for the club.

Andy Guy continued his impressive recent form with a category win (Male 35) and top-20 finish in a time of 31:25. The impressive performances, along with several others from club members, meant Larne Athletic Club picked up second place in the team event and hopefully a good haul of points to help push the club higher up the new XC league.

Other finishers for the club were Bernard Brady (31:18), Nigel Kane (34:46), Paul Tilson (35:00) and James Robinson (35:41).

Related topics: