Big performances by athletes in Ireland and further afield

This performance was complemented by ten of the club's talented Master runners putting themselves on the short list for the NI and Irish squads by their efforts in both Comber and Dublin's Phoenix Park.

But first to a hot and hilly Torres Verdras, just north of Lisbon where Aaron Doherty, Emmet McGinty, Brendan Murphy and Gary Slevin combined to deliver the Spartans' best ever team finish in this prestigious European road race where they competed as Irish champions.

The tough conditions certainly favoured the southern European athletes with the crack Club Maratona de Portugal racing to team success in a race won by another Portugese, Hermano Fereira of Club Conforlimpa who posted an impressive 61 minutes and 24 seconds winning time.

Back in 1994 and 1995 when the red vests last contested this event it was also the Club Maratona boys who claimed the team honours.

A terrific group effort from the Derry boys in difficult conditions saw the scoring quartet led home by Doherty, 23rd overall in 72 minutes and 35 seconds with McGinty, 27th in 73 minutes and 45 seconds, Murphy, 28th in 74 minutes and 56 seconds and Slevin 30th on 76 minutes and 29 seconds.

The latter pair both posted Personal Bests and all four should be delighted with their strong runs in a high class field. They were backed up by Gary Magee and Cathal Logue on the road and Malcolm McCausland was the busy Team Manager.

Moving back home and to the cross country action which yielded an excellent return for the local competitors at both Saturday's Comber Cup meeting and Sunday's Gerry Farnham races in Dublin.

Christy McMonagle won the M65 age category and Roisin Lynch was runner up in the F60 age group in Dublin and both will most definitely be selected on the Irish Masters squad for the annual International cross country, back in Dublin (Santry Demense) on 13th November next.

McMonagle who has the small matter of next Monday's Dublin Marathon to negotitate first,will face clubmate Gerry Lynch who won the M65 age group at Comber and will likely lead the NI M65 squad into action at Santry. He will be joined in the NI shade of green by Jackie McGinley F40, Anne Paul and Bridgeen Byrne F45, Dermot Connolly M50 and M55 Peter Lilburn who impressed in Comber on Saturday.

M45s, Damien McGinty and Declan McCarthy are also in the selectors' eyes for the Santry gig so the local representation could once again be in double figures!

Staying with Dublin, City of Derry expect to mount a strong challange for the Senior and Masters Mens team honours at next Monday's Marathon.

Gregory Roberts, Declan Reed, Seamus Kealey and Dara Furey will front the Senior onslaught while James Crampsey, Sean Laverty, Gerry Duddy and M65 individual favourite Christy McMonagle spearhead a solid looking Masters team.

This weekend brings a double bill of cross country with the UU Jordanstown grounds hosting the Ulster/NI Even Age Group championships alongside the Bobby Rea Memorial Races on Saturday and Round 1 of the local Primary Schoolos League will bring hundreds of P6/P7 pupils to the Sports Complex on Friday lunchtime. Girls run at 12.30pm and the Boys at 12.45pm with both taking on a 1K course out on the grounds.

Saturday's Age Groups will have more significance than usual as while they perform the usual role as qualifing races for the All Irelands,

this time around the Nationals will be on home ground, in Gransha on Sunday, November 28 and so the local juveniles will have that extra incentive this weekend to grab a place - and a chance to impress - on home turf next month!