Good weekend forathletes

Podium places for Keith Shields at Saturday’s Eskra 10K near Omagh and both Scott Rankin and Marina Campbell at the Malcolm Cup cross country were the highlights of the weekend action for local athletics.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Dec 2013, 16:49 BST
Foyle Valley's Scott Rankin.Foyle Valley's Scott Rankin.
Foyle Valley's Scott Rankin.

Both City of Derry Spartans and Foyle Valley maintained their significant interest in the ongoing Athletics NI Cross Counrty League.

Shields returned to road race action to post a facile victory in the Eskra 10K, clocking a winning 32 minutes and 22 seconds to finish well in front of runner up Annadale’s Glenn Phair’s 33 minutes and 3 seconds.

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A decent run out for the Foyle Valley man who will join his clubmates this weekend for a crack at the National Novice cross country championships in Waterford.

Meanwhile in Ballyclare both local clubs were competing at the Annadale Striders annual Malcolm Cup cross country meeting and their athletes featured prominently in the upfront race action. Scott Rankin and Allan Bogle were always at the sharp end of the Malcolm Cup 4 mile race with the Foyle Valley man eventually claiming the runners up spot behind track star Gareth Hill of Ballymena & Antrim, who outkicked the local lad to win on 21 minutes and 1 second, five seconds clear.

Bogle led home a scratch City of Derry squad with a hard earned fifth place finish, 36 seconds behind the winner and with Scottish based Springwell runner Ritchie Nicholls and Ballymena Runners Jonny Steede between him and Rankin.

A strong run for Rankin and he will travel south this weekend hoping for a big effort at National level.

“It may have been an understrength mens squad today, but we took vital points,” said Gerry Lynch.

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