European clubs action highlights top quality weekend

THIS weekends competitive action will see local athletes spoilt for choice with both cross country and road options available in Omagh, Comber, Dundrum, Dublin and Lisbon where a City of Derry Spartans mens squad will represent Ireland at the European Clubs Half Marathon championships.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Oct 2010, 12:10 BST
Updated 14th Oct 2010, 12:10 BST

The City of Derry squad, managed by Malcolm McCausland will fly out of Dublin on Saturday morning for Lisbon and compete against Europes champion clubs on Sunday.

The squad is made up of Emmet McGinty, Aaron Doherty, Brendan Murphy, Gary Slevin, Cathal Logue and Gary Magee and will target a top ten finish in what is a high quality championship event.

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The Red vests qualified as 2009 Irish club champions beating all comers in Ballybofey on September 2009 and this weekend will be the clubs third time to contest this prestigious event. Back in 1994 and 1995 they qualified as NI club champions and ran in Portugal in both years, finishing a creditible ninth in 1995.

Unfortunately the current squad will be without their leading scorers from Ballybofey. Greg Roberts and Declan Reed are both running the Dublin Marathon in a few weeks time and will not travel.

Diarmuid Grant is recovering from injury and is not yet race fit. They will be missed but the squad have been preparing well and will give their all come Sunday.

While Comber County Down and Dublins Phoenix Park are significant venues over the weekend for local cross country runners. Both will kick start the cross country season in style and act as trials for the NI and Irish Masters squads to contest next months Masters International at Santry Stadium.

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Local Masters will be out in force at both weekend venues and despite the top quality opposition the target will be to beat last years record of fourteen qualifiers across all age groups. Given that final preparations for the upcoming Dublin Marathon may sidetrack several potential local contendors this could be a big ask but there is genuine quality among local Masters and expectations remain high.

There are also Under Age and Open races at Comber and these will also attract local interest as the cross country season opens. Road runners will look to Omagh for Saturday's Sally's 10K which has an 11am start from the Leisure Centre and there is also a Multi Terrain 8.4 mile event in Dundrum Co Down on Saturday.

Related topics:OmaghMastersIreland