Cross country coming toSt Columb’s Park

And on Sunday there will be a double header with the National Juvenile and Novice championships in Wexford and the European championships in Budapest.

Cathal Logue of City of Derry will be the sole local in Wexford and Letterkenny’s Chris Johnston is in the Irish U23 squad at the European’s.

Sunday also boasts the North West Tri Club’s second Winter 5k road race from 10am at Sainsburys where entries will be taken pre-race.

The first of these attracted almost 140 runners last month and, weather permitting, another good entry is expected this Sunday.

Saturday also offers options with the Eskra, Omagh 10K road race at 12noon and at 1pm, the Dromore County Down cross country meeting.

Back to tomorrow’s St Columb’s Park schools races, there is a 12noon start here for the 1.2K Fun Run followed by the separate Girls and Boys races over the same distance.

Fourteen local Primary Schools were involved in the opening race back in October at Templemore Sports Complex and if the turnout and standard is as good tomorrow, an exciting half hour or so is guaranteed.

With local bragging rights and vital league points at stake in advance of mid-January’s third and final races, the more testing St Columb’s Park course will provide an enhanced challenge for the 200 plus participants.

While Gransha will be the major venue next Saturday, December 15, when the very popular annual NW Cross Country championships will host races from U13’s, U15’s, U17’s to the Open 6K for U20’s, Masters and Seniors.

This is a terrific end of year meeting and is once again augmented by incorporating NI Masters and Athletics NI Cross Country League status.

This guarantees input from athletes and clubs from outside the immediate North West and adds significantly to the competitive action.

The underage races also provide ideal competitive action for the local juveniles in advance of next month’s Schools District championships and the Ulsters in February, so no doubt schools throughout the region will look at giving their runners a shot on the Gransha circuit.

Entries will be taken on Saturday, December 15th from 10.30am, at the U3A Foyle premises in the Gransha Grounds. Contact Gerry Lynch on (0770) 200 667 for full details.

Finally a word on the rush to enter the Walled City Marathon, set for Sunday, June 2, next year.

The declared 1,000 entry limit is said to be under threat so the organisers clear appeal to enter early seems to have worked.

There is a great buzz around the event, a key component of the City of Culture’s sporting programme for 2013 and the close to 300 or so turnout at last week’s launch, certainly pointed to a massive interest in signing up for the 26.2 mile trek round the city.