National Half Marathon gold for City of Derry masters

DESPITE having to scratch their Senior Men's squad from the National Half Marathon championships in Carlow at the weekend, due to a combination of injury and availability, a City of Derry team nevertheless came home with a fistful of medals as the M50 quartet of Sammy McAnaney, Dermot Connolly, Christy McMonagle and Noel McMonagle grabbed team gold in their age category and there was M50 individual silver for McAnaney and M65 individual gold for Christy McMonagle.

On what was described as a brute of a course the red vests ran brilliantly to make their mark at National level and compensate somewhat for surrendering their senior team title, won so impressively last year in Stranorlar.

McAnaney led them home, clocking 80 minutes 23 seconds on the tough two lap course to claim a well deserved individual silver to complement his team gold. Connolly was next in 84 minutes 43 seconds, a great effort from the local GP whose mileage has been minimal in recent months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The elder McMonagle confidently retained his M65 individual title with 92 minutes 15 seconds as he works towards the upcoming Dublin Marathon and the young gun, Noel, dipped his toes back in championship action after a long absence with a 95 minutes 38 seconds clocking as the Derry men celebrated another National success.

Meanwhile in Holland, Greg Roberts ran the prestigious Tilburg 10 mile road race on Sunday but was less than pleased with his 51 minutes 22 seconds clocking for a tenth place finish.

The Dessie's Run winner lost contact around half way and despite battling hard he failed to get close to his sub 50 minutes target.

He won the Ballycotton 10 back in March with a sub 51 minutes run and expected an improvement at the top quality Dutch race where back in 2005, Heile Gebrselassie ran a 44 minutes 24 seconds world best for the distance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However it was not to be for the Spartan this weekend and he will have to re-focus and get back on track for the Great North Run.

The Spartans' young athletes were in Gateshead and Manchester over the weekend at the UK Schools Games and the UK YAL Finals respectively.

Anna Barr, Andrew Bolster, Mark McGarvey and Ryan McParland were in the North East facing red hot schools competition and acquitted themselves well. Anna produced an 11 metres 09cms Triple Jump for a fourth place spot and Andrew posted a decent 58.87 seconds 400m Hurdles, finishing sixth in this demanding event.

Mark in the Long Jump and Ryan in the 100 metres Hurdles found the going tough, both finishing eighth in their events but the experience of regular competition at such a high level will be invaluable to this promising quartet.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In Manchester the depleted Spartans also finished eight in the YAL Finals, they would have challenged for a six/seven finish with a full complement but there were several excellent performances by squad members over the day long event.

A total of 18 medals - two gold, four silver and twelve bronze - were won. U15 High Jumper Claire Dougherty cleared 1 metre and 60cms for the win, narrowly missing at 1 metre and 65cms.

Ciara Armstrong also at U15 level won the "A" Long Jump and picked up two bronzes in the 100/200m, posting a new PB of 25.2s in the latter.

In the U13 High Jump Meagan McGarvey also claimed silver and in a terrific 300m Relay, Roisin Laverty, Emma McCay, Hannah McGowan and Tamara Boyle did brilliantly to take silver in a photo finish. The silvers were completed by Roisin Laverty's impressive High and Long Jump double at U17 level.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Entries are still being taken for this Sunday's Tesco Waterside Half Marathon as the total climbs towards the 1000 mark. Race HQ St Columb's Park Leisure Centre is open for business until 5pm on Saturday next and on race day, entries will be accepted from 8am at the U3A Foyle premisses in the race venue, Gransha Park.

Runners, Walkers and Fun Runners will all be catered for this weekend with the choice of the full 13.1m Half Marathon, the three Person Team Relay and not forgetting the 3K Family Fun Run ensuring a massive turnout on Sunday morning in Gransha for the Dery City Council organised event.

For more information check out www.derrycity.gov.uk/halfmarathon or call to St Columb's Park Leisure Centre 71343941/71347695.

Related topics: