Falls regains Race Over the Glens title

Jarlath Falls of Ballymena & Antrim on his way to winning back his Race Over the Glens title at Glenariffe Forest Park on New Year's Day. INBT 01-170CS

The Ballymena & Antrim Athletics Club runner has been the dominant force in the traditional new year event over the past decade, although he hadn’t won the event in either of the past two years.

A record turnout of runners set off in torrential rain on the gruelling six mile course.

Falls was among the early pace-setters in a group which contained Seamus Lynch (Newcastle AC), Justin

Maxwell (East Coast AC), Paul Ervine (City of Lisburn AC) and Paul Carlin (Newcastle AC).

In the ladies’ event, international mountain runner Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC) was a dominant force from the off, with Trudy Brown (Orangegrove AC), Catriona Kerr (Glens Runners), Anne Johnston (Unattached),

Penny Lindsay (East Coast AC) and Helena Dornan (Ballycastle Runners) also amongst the front runners.

In the second half of the race, Falls opened up a gap on the lead pack. Seamus Lynch and Justin Maxwell followed, but despite their efforts, neither were able to catch the relentless Ballymena & Antrim AC athlete, who went on to claim the ‘King of the Glens’ title for the eighth time after breaking the tape in 38:44.

Justin Maxwell finished strongly to take second in 39:28, just 11 seconds ahead of talented Newcastle AC man Seamus Lynch, who crossed the line in 39:39.

Shileen O’Kane continued to open a gap on the ladies field, before securing a well-deserved victory, and the prestigious ‘Queen of the Glen’ title in 46:27.

Trudy Brown looked strong as she crossed the line in 49:19, before Penny Lindsay (50:44) was rewarded for an excellent second half performance with a podium place.

In the team competition, the Newcastle AC team of Seamus Lynch, Paul Carlin, Deon McNeilly, Mark Kendall, Brendan Donnelly and Eamonn McCrickard took top honours.