Celtic Games medals and road race success

Anne Paul continued her return to race action with the runners up spot at Friday night's Cookstown 5-mile classic where Richard Johnston finished fifth in a very classy men's field and Oran McBride and Peter Lilburn both got in their age group prizes in Ramelton, also on Friday night.

First to the Celtic Games in Athlone where five City of Derry Spartans were on the Ulster team taking on Scotland, Wales and an Athletics Ireland squad on Saturday at U16 and U18 level.

Another five star performance from Ryan McParland in the U16 200m saw him scorch to a wind assisted 22.9s clocking and the individual silver medal and this was matched in the U18 100m Hurdles by Mark McGarvey who posted a legal 13.71s with a terrific run.

Anna Barr claimed individual bronze in the U18 300m with an impressive 41.69s and boosted her confidence ahead of this weekend's National League Final in Tullamore. Tamara Boyle was a late call up in the U16 800m and performed very well for fourth with a 2m 29.32s run.

U16 Javelin Thrower Natasha Deane also finished fourth in her event as an Ulster squad missing several first choice selections finished behind Athletics Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Super Vet Anne Paul took the runners up spot at Friday night's Cookstown 5 miler, splitting former Sparta clubmates, Cathy McCourt and Julie Butler, to show she is back as a serious contender after a long injury absence. A top class men's race was won in 24m and 40s by St Malachy's Joe McAllister from Omagh's Stephen Duncan, Ballymena's Jarlath Falls and fourth placer Owen Gahan, also of Omagh.

In fifth spot was the relative novice Richard Johnston, the emerging Spartan finding his more seasoned rivals too hot for him on this occasion. He did brilliantly since he burst onto the scene back in April and will now take a short break before knuckling down for the upcoming cross country season.

Finn Valley's Ian Ward ran 16m 34s to eke out a three second victory margin over clubmate Kevin Holian on the hilly Ramelton 5K course on Friday evening with a 19m 10s effort enough to give Letterkenny's Fionnuala Diver the women's prize. Oran McBride ran 19m 9s for third M40 and Peter Lilburn posted 19m 27s to take the M55 award.

Letterkenny duo Ciaran Doherty and Pauric McKinney were the top two at Sunday's Danny McDaid 15K in the Donegal venue, clocking 49m 19s and 50m 41s respectively as 168 runners finished in somewhat humid conditions.

City of Derry had a good contingent in action and were led home in third place by Declan Reed who clocked an impressive 51m 7s with Emmet McGinty close behind with 51m 19s. Two excellent efforts from the red vests who are preparing for next month's National Half Marathon in Carlow and these runs will boost their confidence ahead of the trip South.

Gary Crossan of Letterkenny and City of Derry's much improved Gary Slevin completed the top six with 52m 44s and 52m 51s, a particularly noteworthy run by the Spartan and Paddy Mor Doherty ran 53m 56s to complete the top ten finishers. The red vests masters were in good form with Gerry Duddy, James Crampsey and Sammy McAnaney all well up in their age groups. Duddy clocked 54m 36s, Crampsey 55m 53s for second and third in the M40 category. McAnaney's 56m 33s finish time gave him the M50 runners up prize.

Maria McCambridge won the women's race with 54m 22s ahead of Catriona Jennings on 56m 15s and third placer Helena Crossan on 58m 33s and the leading Foyle Valley finisher on 58m 24s was Ryan Snodgrass.

Finally mention of the Athletics NI Open Meeting also this evening in Magherafelt, where some local track and field athletes will compete as a final warm up in advance of Saturday's National League Final in Tullamore.

City of Derry have their men chasing Premier Division honours and their women are targeting a top six finish in their Division 1 competition at the weekend Midlands venue.