Clubs shine in Ballyclare

And podium finishes from Declan Reed and Catherine Whoriskey at the popular East Antrim Harriers promotion were the stand-out performances.

The male Spartans, led by individual runner-up Reed, lost the four to score team race to perennial rivals Annadale Striders by a mere two points.

And their female counterparts, fronted once again by third placer Catherine Whoriskey, also finished third in the women’s team standings behind North Down and North Belfast Harriers.

Scott Rankin with a sixth place finish in a competitive men’s race was the pick of the Foyle Valley contingent on duty.

M65 winner Christy McMonagle and F60 winner Roisin Lynch warmed up for this weekend’s Masters International in Belfast with convincing runs keeping both Spartans squads right up there in the ANI Cross Country League standings.

Saturday’s meeting was the second round in the League and the male Spartans have actually increased their lead over North Belfast Harriers while the female squad sit second, just one point off women’s leaders North Down.

North Down’s emerging young talent Niall Robinson won a hotly contested men’s 8k race, holding off Declan Reed and a late charge from East Down’s Brendan Teer.

The Spartan was making his return to competitive action after a planned break and will have benefitted significantly from this outing.

He goes for the N.I. M35 squad this Saturday at the Masters International cross country in Belfast and will be all the better for the weekend’s blow-out in Ballyclare.

Scott Rankin made his opening season’s foray on the country an impressive one with a hard fought sixth place finish as the Foyle Valley quartet took fifth place in the men’s team race.

Noel Logan also re-emerged for a workman-like ninth, about 30 seconds clear of Valley’s Keith Shields, another man heading for the Masters cross country this weekend.

Richard Johnston was a close up 11th for City of Derry and Chris McPeake battled hard to complete the Spartans scoring quartet in 16th spot.

However, marginly better packing by Belfast outfit Annadale saw them home on 36 points, just two clear of the Spartans with North Down third, North Belfast fourth and just a point shy, in fifth place Foyle Valley, as Chris McGuinness and Dara McAnulty completed their scoring four.

In the Women’s 5K North Down’s Jessica Craig and Patricia OHagan of St Peter’s AC were at the head of affairs once again and finished in that order.

Catherine Whoriskey came through strongly for an impressive third place to confirm her current good form and the Spartan looks like she has more to offer over the country this season.

Jackie McGinley ran well again for eighth spot. Ciara Fraser and Paula McGilloway completed the Spartans scorers and the team’s third place finish behind North Down and North Belfast kept them in the hunt for League honours.

Meanwhile Finn Valley and Letterkenny claimed the plaudits at Sunday’s Donegal senior cross country championships.

The Valley women lead by individual winner Teresa McGloin saw off the Lifford AC challenge to comfortably take the team title while an individual one, two from Chris Johnston and Ciaran Doherty got the Letterkenny men home in the team championship, in front of Valley and Inishowen AC, who were led home in third spot by the indefatiguable Pauric McKinney.

Good news for local Masters athletes Paul McCafferty, James Crampsey and Gerry Duddy who have just discovered their recent Dublin Marathon exploits turned up a real silver lining.

The hardy trio had excellent runs in the Dublin classic last week and have been confirmed as club team national silver medallists behind winners Mayo AC, who in the three to score championship, had just 1min 37secs to spare over the Derry lads.

Not a lot after 26.2 miles and hearty congratulations to the successful trio who are awaiting the arrival of their well merited gongs.

A major double header is scheduled for this weekend with the Masters International cross country in Belfast on Saturday and then in Killybegs on Sunday it’s the NI/Ulster Uneven Age group and Novice championships.

Significant local interest at both venues is guaranteed with nine Masters athletes lining up in Belfast and a much bigger contingent then chasing provincial honours a day later in Killybegs.

Foyle Valley’s Keith Shields and Cathal McLaughlin will join the Spartans Bridgeen Byrne, Jackie McGinley, Una Gavan, Roisin Lynch, Christy McMonagle, Damien McGinty and James Brown in the home squads for this annual prestigious Masters competition, featuring the best Masters athletes in Britain and Ireland.

Both clubs will then have squads in Killybegs on Sunday for the Novice championships while the Spartans are set to also field squads in the Juvenile championship races.