Rankin and Campbell take Furey honours

CITY of Derry duo Emmet McGinty and Marina Campbell grabbed the individual male and female honours at Wednesday night’s sixth and final race of this season’s Furey Insurances 5k series.

Staged in blustery conditions on the Baliniska/Branch Road circuit as the Overall series awards went to the mens runner up on the night, Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley with Campbell doubling up on her night’s winning run to also claim the overall female honours.

Wednesday’s race served up another series of tussles right across the large field as the spectators were treated to some excellent action over the two lap circuit.

Up front McGinty and Rankin were clear from the gun, with the red vest pushing the pace from an early stage. He had the advantage as they swept through the first lap and maintained the pressure to the line for an impressve win in 15 minutes and 33 seconds, ahead of Rankin’s 15 minutes and 43 seconds, with top masters runner Colin Roberts taking third in 16 minutes and 02 seconds.

The M40 Spartan got away from Culmore winner Pius McIntyre on the second circuit to eke out a six second advantage at the line with the M35 age group winner, Letterkenny’s Kevin Ferry a close up fifth in 16 minutes and 11 seconds.

In the womens race Marina Campbell took it out from the off and despite a late charge from clubmate Catherine Lilburn, she finished clear on 18 minutes and 29 seconds to Catherine’s 18 minutes and 38 seconds.

The consisten Martina McMullan ran 19 minutes and 39 seconds for an excellent third on the night, ahead of Jackie McGinley on 19 minutes and 51 seconds, good enough for the F40 award with Marian Bridge, 20 minutes and 02 seconds and Inishowen’s Sarah Marie Doherty-Moore, 20 minutes and 04 seconds battling hard to complete the top six female finishers.

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