Cross Country coming to Gransha

This weekend promises to be a busy weekend with back to back cross country in Ballyclare on Saturday and the local Gransha Grounds on Sunday.
Winner of the Sperrin Winter League Trail race, City of Derrys Allan Bogle (centre) pictured on the podium with Pierce McCullagh (Sperrin) and Brian Young.Winner of the Sperrin Winter League Trail race, City of Derrys Allan Bogle (centre) pictured on the podium with Pierce McCullagh (Sperrin) and Brian Young.
Winner of the Sperrin Winter League Trail race, City of Derrys Allan Bogle (centre) pictured on the podium with Pierce McCullagh (Sperrin) and Brian Young.

Ballyclare hosts the 79th staging of the McConnell Shield on Saturday and local clubs Foyle Valley and City of Derry are expected to travel for a popular meeting which has the added attraction of incorporating scoring races in both the ANI Winter club league and the NI Masters individual league.

On Sunday, Gransha hosts the NI/Ulster Uneven Age group and Novice cross country championships with around 500 athletes expected to contest the extensive race programme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Starting at 11.30am with the Girls U11 championship, the programme will conclude after 3pm with the Mens Novice 6K championship.

Meanwhile a low key competitive weekend locally with the only North West venue, a new course in Carndonagh, hosting the Donegal cross country championships.

Allan Bogle won the opening Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail race in Davagh Forest near Cookstown on Saturday.

The City of Derry man had a comfortable win, his 36 minutes and 46 seconds effort getting him home well clear of the host club’s Pierce McCullagh on 37 minutes and 17 seconds and regular trail runner Brian Young on 38 minutes and 01 second.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Spartan has been going well recently and is expected to feature more frequently over the country this winter following his third place finish at last month’s Springwell promotion in Colereaine.

Meanwhie the classy Anthony Murray announced his return to competitive action with an impressive victory on a wet and miserable Sunday in Carndonagh.

The St Josephs PE teacher who was running in St Malachy’s AC colours finished well clear of last weeks Rostrevor winner Letterkenny’s Ciaran Doherty and Christopher Johnston.

Finn Valley took the six to score team title ahead of Letterkenny while in the Womens race Teresa McGloin outlasted Natasha Adams of Lifford to lead Finn Valley to both individual and team honours.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over in Belguim on Sunday, there were good runs from Anne Marie McGlynn and Darren McBrearty at the Lotto Cross Country meeting in Antwerp.

Lifford star McGlynn was an excellent 7th, while McBrearty of Letterkenny AC was 22nd in a quality mens race won.